


DEPAUW UNIVERSITY 



Semi-Centennial Reminiscences 



Historical Addresses. 



1 837- 1 887, 



Published by the University 
GREENCASTLE, IND. 



DEPAUW UNIVERSITY 



Semi-Centennial Reminiscences 



Historical Addresses, 



1 837- 1 887. 



Published by the University, 

GREENCASTLE, IND. 

1887. 






2G211 

EXPLANATORY NOTE. 
On Tuesday, June 21, 1887, occurred the Semi-Centennial Celebration 
of the founding of Indiana Asbury, now DePauw, University. The his- 
torical addresses delivered on this occasion, together with an extract 
from the Year-Book of 1884, relative to the change of name of the 
University, were ordered by the Joint Board of Trustees and Visitors to 
be published for the information of the public. 




REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY DAYS OF 
INDIANA ASBURY UNIVERSITY. 



By Rev. Thomas Aikin Goodwin, A. M., D. D., 
Of the Class of 1840. 



[Note. — Dr. Goodwin is the only surviving member of the first class graduated 
from the University.] 

Fifty years ago yesterday the foundation was laid for the material 
structure which was to be known as the Asbury Universit}^; its moral 
foundation had been laid long before. Fifty years ago the first Sunday 
of next November I entered Greencastle, the first person that had come 
from outside Putnam county to seek an education within its walls. To 
tell how I came, why I came, and what I found, is to be the theme of 
the few minutes allotted me. 

For months I had been struggling, under adverse circumstances, to 
acquire some fitness to enter the Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, 
with a view to graduation, as a qualification for teaching. At that 
period there were but few Methodist teachers in any of the higher schools 
of the State. I would attend the county seminary a few weeks when 
farm work was not pressing, then carry my Latin Grammar to the fields 
and study odd moments, making, of course, but little progress, yet mak- 
ing progress, if in nothing else, in increasing my hunger for an edu- 
cation. 

In the midst of these struggles and discouragements, about the first 
of January, 1837, Rev. John C. Smith, one of the agents of the embryo 
Asbury University, called upon my father to solicit a subscription. His 
tongue was as the pen of a ready writer, and my father soon decided 
that if his son must go to college it ought to be to a Methodist college, 
for he was an intense Methodist, and had, somehow or other, brought 
up his children in the same faith. He bought a scholarship. That set- 



4 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

tied two questions of importance to me. The first was that I was to go 
to college, and the second, that I was to go to Asbury University; and 
everything on the farm, in the home, and at the seminary, when I was 
in it, was therefore bent in that direction. On my part there was greater 
application to the class of studies that were preparatory to entering 
college, stealing more moments for books when work was to be done, 
thus losing my reputation as a good farm hand, and giving more atten- 
tion to study during school hours when at school. On m}^ father's part 
there was diligence to gather the little money that might be needed to 
defray expenses, while my mother selected, early in the spring, the 
choicest fleeces of the spring clip of wool for a complete outfit of jeans, 
and she spun and wove with an eye to that all the summer. 

At last November came. The fall term was to open on the first Mon- 
day. There was but one way to get to Greencastle, that was by stage to 
Putnam ville, and from that place to Greencastle as best I could. I left 
Brookville Wednesday at noon, expecting to reach Greencastle by Friday 
night. The first seventeen miles were traveled in a two-horse coach. It 
had been raining for two weeks. There were no turnpikes then in In- 
diana. We were six hours in reaching Bulltown. From that to Indian- 
apolis the coach that had been running three times a week had been 
taken off on account of bad roads, and a two-horse wagon, without cover 
or springs, had been substituted. In this, before daylight, we started, 
hoping to make Indianapolis, fifty-three miles distant, before the stage 
west should leave at ten that night. But we failed. It rained all day, 
and Rush county roads were at their worst. The corduroy was afloat in 
many places, and the creeks and rivers, unbridged, were bank full. 
Night overtook us about ten miles from Indianapois, and it was dark as 
pitch. About eight o'clock our wagon broke down six miles from In- 
dianapolis in the middle of a mud hole. We were a half mile from any 
house and without a particle of light. We soon discovered that the 
wagon could go no further. There were three of us, the driver, an agent 
of the stage line, and myself. The only baggage was my trunk and the 
mail pouch. After considering the situation, it was determined that the 
driver should ride one horse, without a saddle, of course, and carry my 
trunk before him, the stage agent should ride the other and carry the 
mail pouch before him and me behind him. By this conveyance I 
made my first entrance into Indianapolis about eleven o'clock, the first 
Thursday night of November, 1837. The town was fast asleep and hence 
our procession down Washington street, single file, the driver in the 
lead, with my trunk before him, created no marked sensation and no 
mention was made of it in the city papers next morning. As the stage 
for St. Louis had been gone an hour or more, nothing could be done but 
to wait a day. Friday was put in in visiting the sights of the city, the 
most important of which, in my estimation, were the State House, just 
completed, and the Methodist Church, on the Circle ; each of which was 
a marvel in magnitude and grandeur in my eyes. The State House 
was the most imposing capitol in the West, so pre-eminent in its style 
and size that a cut of it adorned the pages of Olney's School Geography, 
and there was no other Methodist Church in the West, except that on 
Fifth street, Cincinnati, that could compare, in splendor with that brick 



DePauw University. 5 

structure, with its high pulpit, ascended by winding stairs, and a gallery 
on three sides, and forty by sixty feet in dimension. At ten, Friday 
night, I took the St. Louis stage, booked for Putnamville, which we were 
to reach, by schedule time, at eight next morning. There were in all 
eleven passengers, two of whom were women, nine inside and two out- 
side. The National road had been in the hands of contractors the pre- 
ceding summer for grading, and the rain for two weeks and the stream 
of immigrant wagons had mixed the loose soil into deej^, stiff mud, 
turning the travel in many places into the unfenced woods, only to find 
the mud in a few days deeper than in the road, so that no matter which 
road we took we wished we had taken the other. Midnight found us 
stalled in a mud hole about half way to Bridgeport. B}^ unloading all 
but the women, and every man's giving a lift, we got out and reached 
Plainfield by a little after daylight. Here we took breakfast and changed 
horses. Noon found us near Stilesville, and again fast in the mud, but 
worse than before, for lifting would not get us out, it took prying. 
Under the direction of a stalwart merchant who had been east for goods, 
and who was easily recognized as leader, we raided a fence and con- 
structed a temporary corduroy, and by prying at the wheels we were out 
in less than an hour. As we were about to resume our seats in the 
coach the driver suggested that we had better not, for the mud hole, a 
few hundred yards ahead, was worse than that, and that, as we might 
need them, we had better carry a rail each so as to save time. That was 
too much for our merchant leader. With language more pithy than 
pious he said that he did not mind paying his passage and walking, but 
he would be blessed, or words to that effect, if he would walk and carry 
a rail. In less than a half mile we had passed the dreaded mud hole 
and reached Stilesville in time for dinner. Whether that farmer fished 
his rails out of the mud the next spring, or made new ones, history does 
not record, but the probabilities are that he never saw many of those 
rails afterwards. From Stilesville to Putnamville, the roads were better, 
the road-maker not having disturbed them much that summer, though 
the road had been cut out and partially graded previously. 

It was nearly night when we reached Putnamville, about twenty 
hours from Indianapolis. My first inquiry of Mr. Townsend, the tavern 
keeper, was for a conveyance to Greencastle. He informed me there was 
none, but if I would wait till Sunday morning he would take me in his 
two-horse wood wagon for two dollars. I could have walked, and would, 
but I was no elephant, I could not carry my trunk. From supper to 
bed time I was entertained by Mr. Townsend with dolorous lamenta- 
tions because the proposed university had been located at Greencastle, 
instead of Putnamville. Greencastle was an out-of-the-way town any 
how, away off the National road ; no stage ran through it or to it ; how 
could it ever amount to any thing, not being on the National road? 
Here, said he, we have a stage each way every day, and he continued, in 
this strain with short intervals, for sleeping, until about ten o'clock, 
Sunday, when he landed me at Lynch's tavern, on the east side of the 
square, and I was at Greencastle, lacking about two hours of four days 
from Brookville, one hundred and ten miles away. 

Notwithstanding I had been informed before leaving home that the 



6 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

necessary buildings were not yet finished, and Mr. Townsend had told 
me they were not even begun, and probably never would be, I had not 
been able to fully realize the situation. Visions of stately buildings like 
those at Oxford, and a corps of learned professors, would stand before 
me, hence, after reaching the town I had strained my eyes to catch a 
glimpse of things that were not. Gladly dismissing Mr. Townsend, with 
his two dollars, I turned for comfort to Mr. Lynch, my new landlord, 
still unwilling to topple my air castle and dismiss my dreams. In 
answer to my question where the University was, he said, "I don't know 
fer certain. It was, last summer, at the deestrict school house, but I 
have hearn that they have moved it to the county siminary. Be you 
come to go to it ? You will not find it much of a university I reckon." 
About that time the premonitory symptoms of home sickness, which 
had been lurking in a mild form ever since Townsend had taken me 
in hand the night before, became unmistakable. It was more than a 
symptom now; it was the genuine article, and in no mild form. But I 
went to my room and dressed for church. My prudent mother had told 
me not to travel in my best, but to save them for Sunday. It was now 
Sunday and I donned my new suit of blue mixed jeans, as handsome a 
piece of home-made as ever came from a v»'eaver's loom ; doubly precious 
to me because my mother had spun the yarn from choice fleeces from 
our own sheep. The coat was of the box pattern with a long tail, 
coming to below the knees, with immense outside pockets, and made 
roomy, for the bo}^ would grow much before that Sunday suit would be 
worn out; and the pants were even more roomy, for the days of tights 
had not yet cursed society. The new pastor, Rev. James L. Thompson, 
preached his first sermon that morning in the little hipped roofed church 
about thirty-five by forty-five feet in size. After sermon followed hearty 
welcomes by the members. When this had somewhat subsided I went 
to the preacher and introduced myself. I told him who I was, where I 
came from, and what I had come for. ''Hold, stop, brothers! Here, 
Brother Dangerfield, Brother Thornburg, Brother Cooper, Brother Har- 
desty. Brother Xutt, here is Brother Tommy Goodwin ; he has come all 
the way from Brookville to attend the institution," said the ardent 
preacher at the top of his voice, and then followed handshakings such 
as I never had been the victim of before, and no student has ever had 
since. It was the first realization of their hopes. They had never seen 
a sure enough student before, except their own children and neighbors. 
Monday morning I took such books as I thought I might need, and 
started out to hunt the Universit}^ And I found it, but when I saw that 
little county seminary, not more than half the size of the Franklin 
county seminary that I had turned my back upon with disgust for its 
insignificance, the homesickness of the day before, which had somewhat 
intermitted, returned with great violence, and I could think of no scrip- 
ture so applicable as the language of Saul : "Behold, I have played the 
fool and have erred exceedingly." Entering the south room on the first 
floor, a room about fifteen by eighteen feet, and finding eighteen boys, 
ranging from thirteen to twenty-eight years of age, none of them any 
better clad than I was in my every day suit, and most of them not so 
well clad, gave no relief to the paroxism. My name was duly entered and 



DePauw University. 7 

numbered nineteen. The scripture lesson was long, but the prayer was 
longer. It was just fifteen minutes, and ranged through the past and the 
present, and embraced everything from " the President of these United 
States"' to "the young man who has just come among us to avail him- 
self of the educational facilities here offered." I trust I was not irrever- 
ent just then, but inwardly my heart muttered, " Can't see the facilities." 
I found a class in Virgil consisting of one. To this I was added, and 
the lesson of the day was assigned. There was no class in mathematics 
corresponding with my attainments, hence I was put in a class by myself 
in the fourth book of Euclid, and in Algebra to correspond. Then came 
the work of the day. " Get your lessons," said Prof. Nutt, mildly but 
firmly, and all was quiet except the noise of classes reciting in reading, 
spelling, geography and arithmetic. What with this hub-hub and my 
homesickness, there was one student that learned very little that day. I 
ate no supper, but went early to my room at the hotel'. I was too big to 
cry, but no severer attack of that miserable disease called homesickness 
was ever known before or since, so far as I know. I went early next 
morning to the postoffice to mail my first letter home, hoping that I 
might receive a letter informing me that somebody was dangerously sick 
and that my presence was imperatively demanded. 

That night my case came before the official meeting. The preacher 
had undertaken to find a boarding house for me, and he inquired of the 
brethren. No one had thought of keeping boarders. There had been 
no demand, hence there was no supply. When the brethren would 
wander from the main question the preacher would bring them back by 
saying: " Here, brethren, what about boarding this student? Some- 
thing must be done. Here they come flocking in and no place to board; 
we are expected to look after this." At last Wm. K. Cooper said that if 
the young man would sleep with Professor Nutt he would take him 
until a better place could be found. Some one suggested that the pro- 
fessor might have something to say about sleeping with the young man. 
The result of the negotiations was that the young man and the professor 
slept together several months, and several families soon begun to adjust 
their domestic affairs so as to board students, but less than a dozen 
"flocked" that winter. 

The most marked event of that winter was the organization of a 
literary society named after the great Plato. In looking around for ma- 
terial it was found that there were not enough young men of suitable 
age in the college to form a society. This was remedied by practically 
constituting it a successor to a debating society which had existed in the 
seminary the preceding winter, and which included a dozen or more of 
the young mechanics, clerks and others of a literary turn in the town. 
In fact and in law the Universit}^ was then and for two or three years 
latei', and until we got into the new building, the Putnam county sem- 
inary, subject to all the regulations of a county seminary, except that 
the county commissioners waived their right to choose the teachers. 
Our lease for the seminary building expressly provided that the youths 
of Putnam county should be taught all the branches of education usually 
taught in county seminaries, and on the usual conditions. 

There were two terms a year in those days, the first beginning the first 



8 SeMI-CeNTENXIAL CELEBRATIO^', 

Monday in Xovember and continuing twenty weeks, or to about the 
middle of March ; the second beginning the first Monday in May and 
continuing twenty weeks, or to about the middle of September. At 
the close of the first term, about the middle of March, 1838, the students 
had a public exhibition in the old church by the aid of seyeral young 
men of the town, not belonging to the Uniyersity. but members of the 
Platonian Society. It gaye great ofience to some of the members of the 
church, because of the use of instrumental music in the church, some 
of the instruments being yiolins. The offence haying been repeated at 
the close of the summer term, when the pastor, at the close of the term 
in March, 1839, announced that there would be an exhibition in the 
church the ensuing Wednesday eyening, a local preacher, liying in what 
was known as "Tennessee," that thinly-settled part of the town lying 
on and east of the Bloomington road, arose in the congregation and 
said : "And I am authorized to say that there will be a prayer meetin' 
at Brother Crawley's next Wednesday eyening to pray for them as is 
desecratin' the house o' God with fiddles and sich !'" 

Dr. Simpson reached Greencastle during the spring yacation of 1839, 
ready to begin work with the opening of the summer term, the first of 
May. His goods were sent from Pittsburg to Terre Haute by steamboat, 
and hauled thence to Greencastle by wagon, while his family left the 
steamer at Cincinnati and came to Greencastle by stage, yia Putnam- 
ville. His coming was an inspiration to the school and to its friends. 
He was plain in dress and pleasing in address, but his yiews of life were 
not in accord with those who liyed in "Tennessee." John Wheeler 
came with him to become a student and a tutor. He brought with him 
several musical instruments, such as an accordeon, a guitar and a bass 
viol. On these he often played on Sunday, as well as on week days. 
This gave such offense to the peculiar people who lived in "Tennessee" 
that at one time they seriously contemplated a church trial for Sabbath 
desecration. 

During the summer term of 1839, at Dr. Simpson's suggestion, a new 
literar}^ society was formed. It was at first called Ciceronean, but about 
that time that barbarism known as the "Continental pronunciation" 
was beginning to take hold, and that made them call old Cicero Kikero. 
This led to an early abandonment of Ciceronean, and they gave the 
name of Philological to the new society. 

At no time, up -to the close of the summer session of 1839, had the 
number in actual attendance at any one time exceeded fifty. The cata- 
logue of that year gives 85 names, but it contained all the names of the 
year, including those who had attended during the winter term, more 
properly as students of the Putnam County Seminary than as students 
of the University ; young men and boys who dropped in for a few weeks 
or a few months to pursue some special stud}^, some to study grammar 
alone, some surveying alone, and some arithmetic and grammar. The 
extent of this may be easily imagined by the fact that of the eighty-five 
whose names appear in that first catalogue only nine were graduated. 
This condition of affairs continued for ten years or more. It was the out- 
growth of the educational condition of the State. There were no free 
schools until ten to fifteen years later, worthy the name, and no graded 



DePauw University. 9 

schools until still later, so that whoever desired an education beyond the 
merest rudiments had to go to such a school, for the county seminary 
system had proved such a failure that it was abandoned early in the 
fifties. Without having the figures for accuracy I think I am safe in 
saying that of the names that appeared on the catalogues of the first 
twenty years, not over one in eight appears in the list of graduates. It 
would be a profitable study to call the roll of the students who took a 
partial course at Asbury during those years. In it w^ould be found, both 
among the living and the dead, some of the most distinguished lawyers, 
doctors, preachers, statesmen and busi;iess men of this half-century, so 
that, while we count the thousand graduated alumni, we might count 
not less than from five thousand to seven thousand ungraduated alumni 
who owe much of their success in life to the impetus given them during 
the few months or years of studentship at Asbury. 

Surveying the field from this semi-centennial elevation, one who was 
a part of its earliest struggles and triumphs would emphasize one feature 
of this university which has characterized it from the beginning. Its 
first students all came from homes of comparative poverty, from that 
class whose daily bread is dependent on daily toil and constant frugality. 
They were led to these halls in most cases by the faithful agents whose 
duty was to at once obtain pecuniary aid and create a hunger and thirst 
for knowledge. It is not extravagant to say that of the first thousand 
w^ho attended this institution seven hundred would never have attended 
any school higher than the very poor country schools of the period but 
for the influence of the college agents, seconded by the faithful preach- 
ers of that day. To this must be added the wonderful magnetism of 
our first president. Wherever he went to preach he aw^akened an interest 
in the University. These students came in their homespun garb, almost 
without an exception. They were proud of their apparel because it was 
the product of the labor of mothers and sisters. Another fact is to be 
mentioned, not to the disparagement of the brave youths who encoun- 
tered difficulties to obtain an education, very few of them came from 
what would be regarded in fashion circles as homes of refinement. They 
came from Christian homes, with noble hearts and high aims, and what 
they lacked in Chesterfieldian culture they made up in that higher and 
better culture which is always the accompaniment of a purpose to do 
good. Let me emphasize another historic fact. From the day that the 
first young man entered college expecting to pay his way by ringing the 
bell and sweeping the rooms, or by grooming some horse, or chopping 
wood, or working in a garden, to this day such a student has never been 
snubbed by any member of the faculty or his family, nor by any fellow 
student whose good opinion was worth anj'thing, nor by any gentleman 
or lady of the town. Such a student has always stood on his class 
record just as the most affluent stands, with the odds, if any, in his favor. 
That can hardly be said of any other college in America. 

Let me from this semi-centennial point of vision mark another char- 
acteristic. It could hardly be otherwise than that an institution born in 
prayer, baptized and nurtured in prayer, would be a source of more than 
intellectual and moral power; it must be a source of religious power. 
Such has this University been for fifty years, and such it shall continue 
to be when these walls shall have grown dull with age. 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORICAL ADDRESS 

Of the liCDiANA AsBURY, HOW DePauw, University, of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, Greencastle, Indiana. 



By Rev. George L. Curtiss, A. M., D. D., 
Professor of Historical Theology in School of Theology, DePauw University. 



On the birth of a child, kind-hearted friends prognosticate the future 
of the little one, drawing in glowing colors the greatness of achievement, 
the heroic in action, and the gentle in nature, or enemies cast the horo- 
scope, depicting dark misfortunes, cruelty of character, and the final ruin 
of this, the last addition to the family of man. When half a century of 
life has passed, it can then be told without conjecture what has been 
done by the grown-up man, and his excellencies may then be com- 
mended without fear that as he grows up he will deceive the hopes of 
friends. "The end of a thing is better than the beginning." 

To-day we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the history of the In- 
diana Asbury, now DePauw, University. This is a Jubilee year. Born 
in 1836, opened in 1837, it rounds out its semi-centennial in 1887. 

I. — The Origin. 

Methodism from its beginning was in favor of the most liberal educa- 
tion of all the people, and Methodist preachers were always the ardent 
supporters of educational institutions. They have ever been the first to 
make sacrifices for their planting and developing. 

Previous to 1832, at which time Indiana was included in the Illinois 
Conference, academies of learning had been located at Augusta and 
Shelbyville, Ky., Mt. Carmel and Lebanon, 111., and St. Louis, Mo., and 
each school was reaching out after the proportions and dignity of a 
college. Methodist ministers had founded these, and by their untiring 
zeal had kept them alive and filled them with students. 

The Methodist educational movement in the great Northwest, out of 



DePauw University. 11 

which came Indiana Asbury Universit.y, commenced October 9, 1828, at 
the session of the Illinois Conference, held in the Masonic Hall, Madi- 
son, Indiana. The propriety of establishing a seminary for Methodism 
in the Northwest was discussed, and determined upon. The Illinois 
preachers believed that it ought to be located in that State, but the In- 
diana preachers were as desirous for its location in their State. 

At the next Conference, held at Edwardsville, in Illinois, September 
19, the Illinois preachers invited the Missouri Conference to unite in a 
common Conference School. John Dew, John Strange and Peter Cart- 
wright were appointed a committee on the part of the Illinois Confer- 
ence to unite in locating said school. Mt. Carmel, Illinois, and Lebanon, 
Illinois, were pressing their claims for the proposed school. The Indiana 
preachers were willing to adopt the proposal of Mt. Carmel, but the 
Illinois preachers were determined that it should be at Lebanon. Strong 
articles of "Confederation and Agreement between the Illinois and Mis- 
souri Annual Conferences " were drawn up and discussed, but the In- 
diana preachers united with a few in Illinois and Missouri and defeated 
the whole plan. The Illinois preachers supposed only two places, viz : 
Mt. Carmel and Lebanon, would be in nomination, but the Missouri 
preachers proposed Mt. Salubria, just west of St. Louis, now occupied by 
the Roman Catholics. To this the old Abolitionist, Peter Cartwright, 
objected, saying that he "would rather send his children to a Calvinistic 
school than to one in a slave State." Dr. Aaron Wood, in Leaton's 
"Methodism in Illinois," explains this action. "Indiana," says he, 
"would have united at Mt. Carmel, Illinois, but the leading Illinois men 
were committed to Lebanon and wanted to draw us all there, and brought 
over Missouri to checkmate Indiana, and lost both." [Leaton's Meth- 
odism in Illinois, 306.] 

Nothing more could be done for Methodist education in Indiana until 
after the establishment of the Indiana Conference. 

When, in 1832, the Indiana Conference was formed, the men who com- 
posed the new body were deeply conscious that they needed a school of 
high grade located within the bounds of their territory, which should be 
directed by sober heads and wa.rm hearts. Three men of advanced 
thought and liberal views, Allen Wiley, Calvin Ruter and James Arm- 
strong, were appointed a committee to carefully "consider and report 
upon the advisabilit}^ of founding a Conference Seminary or College." 
These men carefully and wisely considered the matter, and reported to 
the Conference in language that may well be preserved as one of the 
finest statements of the relation of higher education to the education of 
the masses, and the relation of a sanctified education to a pure religious 
life, that was ever penned by mortals. Said they : 

" Deeming, next to the religion of the Son. of God, the lights of Science 
best calculated to lessen human woe and to increase the sum of human 
happiness, and having learned from observation and information that, 
where superior schools and colleges are neglected, ordinary schools are 
almost universally in a languid state, and many persons live and die 
without any education, we, therefore, report that a seminar}^ or college, 
under good literary and moral regulations, would be of incalculable bene- 



12 Semi-Cextenxial Celebration, 

fit to our people, and recommend the establishment of such an insti- 
tution."' 

The project met with embarrassments from various sources altogether 
without the church, and it did not take tangible shape until the minis- 
try numbered eighty-eight and the membership 25,000, when at the 
Conference of 1835. October 15, at Lafayette, a judicious committee was 
elected to consider the propriety of establishing an institution of learn- 
ing by the Indiana Conference. On the committee's reporting favorably 
the Indiana Asbury University was founded. Arrangements were made 
to at once solicit subscriptions for buildings. During the year several 
localities subscribed liberally, in hopes of securing its location at their 
several places. Rockville subscribed S25.000. Greencastle, 818.000, La- 
fayette, 820,000, Putnamville, 86,000, Indianapolis. 814.000. 

At the Conference held in Indianapolis in 1836, an entire day was 
devoted to the discussion of the place for locating the University. H. S. 
Talbot represented Lafayette, T. A. Howard. Rockville. T. W. Cowgill, 
Greencastle, Wm. Townsend, Putnamville. and Calvin Fletcher, Indian- 
apolis. These were strong men, capable of presenting their places in a 
strong light before the Conference. At first there was no selection. On 
the second ballot Greencastle was chosen by a large majority as the place 
for the planting of a L'niversity, which should some day in its greatness 
and thoroughness of work, be second to none on the continent. The 
successful ballot was taken on Saturday afternoon. On the next Mon- 
day morning, to carry out the plan blocked out. Rev. John C. Smith 
and Rev. Aaron Wood were elected agents of the L'niversity to collect 
funds for the erection of suitable buildings. 

A committee was appointed to draft a memorial to the approaching 
Legislature, asking for a charter. At the regular session of 1836-47 the 
petition was presented. Putnam county was represented by Daniel Sig- 
ler in the Senate and Rees Hardesty in the House. Both were strong 
men and ardent friends and advocates of the new L^niversity. Marion 
county was represented by Calvin Fletcher. 

A committee of three appointed by the Conference drafted the charter 
(under the skillful guidance of Calvin Fletcher) which the General As- 
sembly were asked to pass. The measure met with violent antagonism 
from parties who had no love for Methodism, and despised her attempts 
to found a school of high grade. The discussions were sharp, and at 
times acrimonious. The Senate was believed to be equally divided, and 
it was somewhat doubtful if the charter would be granted. A certain 
Senator, a violent opposer of the founding of the University, was in the 
unfortunate habit of tarrying long at the wine, and on a certain after- 
noon became sadly intoxicated. He could not be in his place, and that 
afternoon, January 10, 1837, Dan Sigler brought up the bill and the final 
vote was taken, and the charter was granted by a majority of one. 

This charter has been pronounced by competent judges as the most 
liberal ever granted by the State to an educational institution. 



DePauw University. 13 

II. — Erection of the University Buildings. 

As soon as it was announced that a charter was granted to the Metho- 
dists for a University at Green castle, the agents, Rev. J. C. Smith, of 
Indianapolis, and Rev. Aaron Wood, Presiding Elder of the Vincennes 
District, who had been elected in anticipation of this event, commenced 
their work and pushed it with vigor. Money was collected and the 
foundation laid. On June 20th, 1837, the ''corner stone" of the first, or 
what was long known as the "Old College Building," was laid. Rev. — 
afterwards Bishop — Henry B. Bascom, D. D., of Kentucky, delivered an 
appropriate address. The general appearance of the man was that of a 
great workman, and his eloquent address did not detract in the least 
irom his great celebrity. 

The following graphic description of the scene is furnished by a wit- 
ness : 

"Expectation was great. The occasion, the unrivaled reputation of 
the speaker awakened an interest hitherto unknown along the hills and 
valleys of Western Indiana. Greencastle was put in her tidiest dress, 
and the doors of her citizens were thrown open to entertain the guests 
that were expected on the occasion. On Monday, the 19th, the crowd be- 
gan to appear, and by night the town was full. People came from all 
parts of the State, and it was estimated that 20,000 people were present 
on the next day. The renowned orator arrived and was entertained at 
the residence of one of the principal citizens. 

"On the 20th, the order of the day was a sermon in the Methodist 
Episcopal church at 9 o'clock, from Rev. Hooper Crews, of Illinois. At 
eleven o'clock, A. M., the procession was formed and marched to the site 
of the University, where was the stone which had been prepared, with 
sundry documents inclosed. Calvin Fletcher, of Indianapolis, on behalf 
of the trustees, delivered a brief and appropriate address. 

"The procession was again formed and marched to a grove on the 
southwest border of the town, where temporary seats had been prepared 
which accommodated about one-fourth of the audience. The stand was 
occupied by the orator of the day, and Revs. Allen Wiley, James 
Havens, Calvin W. Ruter, E. R. Ames, and a few other leading ministers 
of the Conference. Prayer was ofifered by the Rev. E. R. Ames, when 
Dr. Bascom proceeded with his address, which he read. As the day was 
extremely chilly for the season, he asked to wear his hat, which he did. 
During an interlude caused by a slight shower of rain accompanied by 
a few flakes of snow, the speaker sat down a few moments. It was 
during this time that a genuine Hoosier possessed with all the well-known 
hospitality and generosity of his kind, who had provided himself with 
a roll of ginger-bread, stepped up behind the stand, and plucking the 
doctor by the coat, broke ofi* a generous piece of his roll and ofiered it to 
him, saying : 'Mr., as you have been speaking hard you must be hungry; 
here take a piece.' But the doctor courteously thanked him and de- 
clined. 

"The address was finished, requiring two hours in its delivery. It 
was a a masterly production, and was well received. Its impression upon 
the Methodists of the State was excellent." 



14 Semi-Centennial Celebration 



The vast crowd of people gathered upon this occasion dispersed to 
their homes carrying with thera the feeling that the Church had indeed 
taken a loDg stride in the matter of Christian education. That step 
has never been taken backward. 

The new building was occupied in the spring of 1840, though in an 
unfinished state. This Old College Hall was built in a plain but sub- 
stantial manner, being a parallelogram of 100 by 60 feet, three stories 
high, with an attic, the whole surmounted bj^ a plain tower, wherein for 
many years swung one of the sweetest toned bells that eyer called young 
men to prayers and recitations. 

This house of education continued until February 10th, 1879, when 
the cry of nre rang out at noonday bringing faculty and students from 
their midday meal, to find that this grand old historic building of 
precious memories was on fire. The yaluable cabinet was entirel}- de- 
stroyed, but the AVhitcomb library was mostly sayed. For years there 
had been an accumulation of relics of Methodism in Indiana, which 
would haye been of value beyond estimate to the future historian of the 
Church in this State. These were all consumed. 

The insurance amounting to 89,040 was used in rebuilding on enlarged 
plans at a cost of 817,176. At a later date another valuable addition 
was made to this restored building. It retains but little of the appear- 
ance of the building whose "corner stone" was laid by Dr. Bascom. 

As the 3'ears passed on the att-endance of students handsomely increased 
and larger accommodations were demanded. The University was 
reaching out to every part of the State ajid to adjoining States, and stu- 
dents flocked to its hall in great numbers. Year after year it became evi- 
dent that something must be done to increase the room. The joint 
board of trustees and visitors, at the annual session, in 1865, determined 
to erect a suitable building on the new campus, which had been pur- 
chased ten years before. John Ingle, of Evansville, was president of the 
joint board. He was instructed to secure plans, specifications and es- 
timates for a suitable University building that would answer all purposes 
for a hundred years, costing not to exceed $80,000. Mr. Ingle traveled 
through several of the eastern states examining college buildings, and 
fixed in his mind what would be required. Plans and specifications were 
accepted, and on the 20th of October, 1870, the "corner stone" was laid 
with imposing ceremonies, in the presence of the Educational Convention 
of Methodism in Indiana, then in session at Indianapolis. By the 
arrangement of the faculty and citizens of Greencastle, and the courtesy 
of the Vandalia railroad, the members of the convention were transported 
to Greencastle, free of charge, where the ceremony of laying the "corner 
stone" was had. Dr. Thomas Bowman, president of the University, and 
Rev. Aaron Wood, D. D., one of the patriarchs of Indiana Methodism 
and Education, delivered thrilling and eloquent addresses. To Dr., 
now Bishop, Bowman and D. L. Southard, probably more than to any 
others is to be given the credit of pushing forward the erection of this 
grand building. Dr. Bowman traveled extensively through the State, 
preaching and stirring up the people to give of their means to this 
building. 

The cost of this building far exceeded the bounds set by the joint 



DePauw University. 15 

board, reaching to $100,000, but time has proven the valueof the mistake. 

It was not until 1878 that the building was completed. In 1872, how- 
ever, "Joseph Tingley Hall" was completed by Charles W, Smith, of the 
class of '67. "Edwin Ray Hall" was completed by Col. John W. Ray, 
of the class of '48, in memory of his father. Rev. Edwin Ray. Hon. A. 
C. Downey finished the hall bearing his name, and Richard Biddle 
finished the "Hall of Mathematics." The Alumni Association finished 
the "Alumni Hall of Modern Languages." The "Samuel Meharry 
Greek Hall" was finished by Rev. Samuel Meharry, of Ohio. Mrs. Sen- 
ator Lane and Mrs. Bradon, daughters of Col. Isaac C. Elston, one of the 
first trustees of the University, in memory of their father, finished the 
"Elston Hall." Mrs. Mary A. Burson, in memory of her husband, a 
former trustee, finished the "Burson Alcove." The "Daniel DeMotte 
Hall" was finished by the children of Rev. Daniel DeMotte, a successful 
agent of the University. President Martin finished the room now used 
as the President's office. The literary societies vying with each other 
finished their halls in elegant style. Dr. John Simison finished the 
"Simison Latin Library Hall," in a tasteful manner. George W. House 
finished the "House Library of Greek. For a long time the College 
Chapel remained an eyesore in an unfinished state. But in 1876, Jesse 
Meharry, of Shawnee Mound, came forward with a liberal donation of 
$11,000, and soon the work was completed, and the Chapel, one of the 
finest in all Methodism devoted exclusively to educational purposes was 
made to bear the name of "Meharry Hall." 

)^^hen the University has been in great need of strong and loving 
friends to assist her over hard places in building up the work of her 
hands, much prayer has been made, and good friends have come forward 
to rescue this plant of Heaven's planting froru withering and dying. 

III. — The Opening of the University. 

So much faith had the Fathers of Methodism in the success of this 
educational enterprise on a scale commensurate with her largest hopes, 
that in June 1837, Rev. Cyrus Nutt, A. B., of Allegheny College, having 
been selected for that work, opened a preparatory school in Greencastle 
in an old school house, but was in November of that year removed to a 
building standing on the ground now occupied by the College Avenue 
Methodist Episcopal Church, The room in which this school was 
opened was only about twelve by fifteen feet, but it was of ample 
dimensions to accommodate the class, which consisted of only five young 
men, viz. : 0. Badger, 0. H. P. Ash, Wm. Stevenson, Osborn Taylor 
and S. Taylor. The legend is that these boys were coatless and bare foot. 
All were residents of Greencastle, except Badger, who lived a few miles 
in the country. 0. H. P. Ash was the only one of this first class who 
remained to graduate. This was a small beginning for a great University. 
But some very great results come from very small beginnings. 

On the 5th of Dedember, 1837, the joint board of trustees and visitors 
attempted to organize the first faculty by the election of Rev. Joseph S. 
Tomlinson, D. D., of Kentucky, to the chair of Mathematics, and Rev. 
Cyrus Nutt, A. B., Professor of Languages. Dr. Tomlinson, after some 



16 Semi-Centennial Celebration 



delay, saw fit to decline the appointment, and Prof. Nutt went on with 
the school as before. In March, 1838, Rev. John W. Weakley, A. M., of 
Ohio, was elected Principal of the Preparatory Department. 

The joint board at their meeting, September 25th, 1838, elected Dr. 
Tomlinson President and Professor of Mathematics, which was promptly 
declined. The trustees were at first discouraged on account of the 
seeming unwillingness of men to accept places in the board of instruc- 
tion. The truth is there was not much to promise men, and it required 
a good degree of real faith to see just what was to be the outcome of the 
infant University. But all honor to the memory of Cyrus Nutt, who 
was going steadily on with the school, acting as president, professor, and 
general manager, with such assistance as he could obtain. 

At the semi-annual meeting of the joint board in 1839, on the recom- 
mendation of Bishop Roberts, then a resident of Indiana, and a trustee 
of the University, and of Dr. Charles Elliott, then editor of the Western 
Christian Advocate^ Rev. Matthew Simpson, A. M., M. D., of Allegheny 
College, was elected President and Professor of Mathematics. This fact 
Bishop Roberts communicated to Simpson, and united with it his per- 
sonal influence, and prognosticated what was to be the future of the 
Indiana Asbury University, and he was induced to accept. The first 
regular organized faculty was composed of Rev. Matthew Simpson, A. 
M., President and Professor of Mathematics; Rev. Cyrus Nutt, A. M., 
Professor of Languages; Rev. John W. Weakley, A. M., Principal of the 
Preparatory Department, and John Wheeler, Tutor in Languages. 

These men, young in years and buoyant in spirits, with a name to 
make and a fame to create, entered upon their useful career, Nutt, in 
June, 1837, Weakley, in November, 1837, Simpson and Wheeler, in May, 
1839. The judgment of Bishop Roberts and Dr. Elliott was not at fault 
in so highly recommending Simpson for the presidency, or the trustees 
in selecting the other men for their places. No mind could look forward 
to the brilliant career of the then young and feeble plant, and predict all 
that it was to be in the future of its grand life. 

This first faculty was composed of men who were ultimately to be 
known far and wide. Simpson was a native of Cadiz, Ohio, born June 
20th, 1811. He was of Scotch descent; was educated at Madison College, 
Pa., and was elected tutor when nineteen j^ears of age. Having studied 
medicine he commenced practice in 1833, but soon became convinced 
that he was called to preach. In 1837 he was Professor of Natural Sci- 
ence in Allegheny College. He came to Greencastle in 1839. Simpson 
was a man of wonderful eloquence, a statesman of high order, an execu- 
tive officer of careful and prompt action, and the most celebrated man 
in American Methodism since the days of Asbury. As a bishop he was 
in labors abundant, and his great influence was felt in every part of the 
Church. Three of the faculty, Nutt, Wheeler and Weakley, were after- 
wards college presidents of no mean ability and attainments. These 
men were the minds who gave shape and character to the new enterprise, 
and left an impress for Christian culture which shall* never be eff"aced. 

This first faculty still occupied the Seminary building until the 
spring of 1840, when they moved into the new building still in an un- 
finished condition. Work was pushed on rapidly so as to be ready with 



DePauw University. 17 

a completed building by the Commencement exercises on September 13, 
1840, which will always be a red letter day in the history of this 
University, for on that day Hon. David Wallace, Governor of Indiana, 
delivered the charge and presented the keys of the University to Matthew 
Simpson, who was thereby inangurated the first President of ''The 
Indiana Asbury University." What a carreer was before the man and 
the University ! 

IV. — The Growth of the University by Periods. 

First Period, to the End of Slmpson^s Presidency. 

At the time of the inauguration of President Simpson the first class 
had been graduated, consisting of three members. The joint board, 
September 14th, 1840, made changes in the faculty which greatly 
strengthened it and placed it on the line of more efficient work. It now 
was as follows : 

Rev. M. Simpson, D. D., President and Professor of Mental and Moral 
Science. 

Rev. Cyrus Nutt, A. M., Professor of Greek Language and Literature. 

Rev. W. C. Larrabee, A. M., Professor of Natural Science. 

John Wheeler, A. B., Professor of Latin Language and Literature. 

C. G. Downey, B. S., Professor of Mathematics. 

This was the first full faculty after Simpson's inauguration. 

These men remained in their places until March 19th, 1844, when 
Prof. Nutt resigned, and Rev. B. F. Tefft, A. M., was elected his suc- 
cessor. The inaugural address of Prof. TefFt was delivered to the trustees 
at the annual commencement August, 1845. His theme was, "The Far 
West; Its Present, Past and Future." 

Prof. Tefft came from the State of Maine, under the impression that 
the far west was Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He descanted elegantly of 
the fortunate location of the Univessity with reference to Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri, the end of the world, as being a center 
towards which all these States should look for the light of higher Chris- 
tian culture. His address was learned, eloquent and full of enthusiasm, 
which always characterized the man and led to his great success. 

Only one other addition was made to the faculty of Arts during the 
days of Dr. Simpson. Rev. Samuel K. Hoshour, A. M., an eminent 
scholar, was elected Tutor in Modern Languages. 

Students came from many States to the halls of Asbury to obtain an 
education of a Christian type. This was the formative age of the Uni- 
versity, — the period when the future shape and spirit of the University 
were to be moulded. As the twig was bent, the tree would incline. 
This was the critical period for the spirit sucid cultus of the new educational 
enterprise. If the grade be set low, on that grade will it run for years, 
and to rise to a higher will require herculean labor. If the grade be set 
high it will continue. There were, providentially, a giant at the head, 
master workmen at his side, and God over all. 

Dr. Simpson came to the University with clear conceptions of what 
constituted a University. He was thoroughly conscientious, and be- 



18 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

lieved not only in the "survival of the fittest," but in determining what 
was the fittest, and then in making it survive. Simpson impressed him- 
self so deeply on the minds and hearts of the students of that day that 
it is not in the least defaced, though forty years have passed. ' They 
speak of him with a respect amounting to reverence. He is to them 
now their educational guiding star, their moral teacher, their Christian 
adviser. When he passed to the skies they felt another tie drawing 
them heavenward. 

The government of the Simpsonian period was mild but firm. No 
man while following the strict path of right in college life ever felt or 
knew the strength of the law. It was only when he stepped outside of 
the pathway of law that he felt the rigid force of law. It was expected 
that students would study, and study hard. Not only did Simpson 
require this, but all of his faculty required the same. On this as on 
other subjects they were a unit. One thought ran through all their 
minds. As a result, the halls of the University were a busy work shop, 
an immense mind and soul factor}', where trained minds were being 
turned out, full shaped, symmetrically made and well filled. 

Prof. Cyrus Nutt was a man of excellent heart, cultured head and 
noble purposes. He was well educated at Allegheny College, and proved 
himself to be a good educator. His work was neither wood nor straw, 
but good, solid, honest work. At a later period he returned to the Uni- 
versity as Professor of Mathematics and acting President, and remained 
up to 1860, when he became President of the Indiana State University, 
where his career was worthy the emulation of the best of men. 

Prof. W. C. Larrabee, A. M., came from the State of Maine, where he 
had been teaching and also acting as State Geologist. He was a gradu- 
ate of Bowdoin College. At the time of his election he was Principal of 
the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, though formerly Principal of Cazenovia 
Seminary. Few minds were so richly stored with knowledge. At the 
same time he possessed the rare power to tell what he knew in a charm- 
ing manner. Men heard him talk and were charmed. His pen and 
tongue were alike. He wrote with the grace of an Addison. His articles 
in the Ladies' Repository were entertaining and instructive to old and 
young alike. With a pen he could sketch a pastoral scene so true to 
nature that one would seem to hear the bleating of sheep in green pas- 
tures, the lowing of herds at eventide, the song of wild birds as they 
bent their necks to trill the sweetest notes of praise to God, the rustling 
of leaves, the waving of branches, or the muttering of distant thunder. 
His pen was possessed of a weird magic. He was in raptures with the 
great West. He used to say he loved "even the rattlesnakes and gympsom 
of Indiana." 

Prof. Charles G. Downey, A. M., was no common man. He was a 
genius, a skilled educator, and a devoted Christian. Nothing was done 
by halves. Whatever he undertook in the line of Mathematics he mas- 
tered, and expected his students to do the same. Under his enthusiasm 
Mathematics ceased to be a dry study, but became attractive. 

Prof. John Wheeler was a graduate of the first class in 1840. During 
his student life he had served as a Tutor, and proved a faithful workman. 



DePauw University. 19 

While not as brilliant as some men, he was every whit the equal of the 
best in that noble quality of perseverance coupled with conscientiousness. 
An Englishmen by birth, an American by adoption, a Christian by 
change of heart, and an educator by profession, John Wheeler was a 
man to do solid work in whatever department he might enter, and make 
good students of men willing to learn. In 1854 he resigned his Pro- 
fessorship. 

It was fortunate for the new and rising University that in her forma- 
tive days, three such men were at the head and in the faculty : Simpson, 
the master administrator and orator, Tefft, the polished teacher and 
elegant writer, Larrabee, the gifted and polished mathematician and 
wonderful writer. These men gave a shape to these lines of culture 
destined to continue felt for years. 

The entire faculty was hard to be surpassed. They WTOught for 
eternity. This, the Ancients would have called the "Golden Age of 
Asbury." 

Second Period. — The Period to the Change of Name, 

For want of time I must change my mode of tracing the history 
of Asbury. 

When Dr. Simpson resigned the Presidency to take the editorship of 
the Western Christian Advocate, July 18, 1848, Rev. E. R. Ames, D. D., 
was elected President, which was declined, and Prof. Larrabee was ap- 
pointed to act as President. July 14, 1849. Rev. Lucien W. Berry, A. 
M., was elected President. He accepted, and entered at once upon the 
discharge of his duties. At the next Commencement, July, 1850, he 
was regularly inaugurated, Gov. Joseph A. Wright delivering the charge 
and keys of the University. Dr. Berry excelled as an orator. Few men 
anywhere were his equal in the pulpit. He came to the University with 
the confidence of the whole church. In the stormy times of 1854 a code 
of rules was adopted for the government of the faculty, which have not 
been materially altered up to the present, but form the basis of those 
now in force. In 1854 Dr. Berry resigned. 

Rev. D. W. Clark, D. D., then editor of the Ladies' Repository, was 
elected President, but declined to accept. August 14, 1854, Rev. Daniel 
Curry, D. D., pastor of Hanson Place Church, New York, was elected 
President. He accepted and entered upon his duties at once. His in- 
auguration occurred July 18, 1855, Rev. E. R. Ames delivering the 
charge and the keys of the University. Dr. Curry was a man of superior 
ability, a native American, a graduate of Wesleyan University, Conn., 
a man of strong mind and stronger convictions, and a man of unbroken 
will. In some lines of work he had few if any equals. He lacked that 
happy faculty of bending himself to the ways and spirit of the West. 
While a splendid teacher, he was only a moderate governor. An un- 
necessary College rebellion occurred during his administration, which 
threatened to depopulate the halls of Asbury. This difficulty culminated 
December 16, 1856, when the trustees having been called together called 
for certain papers in the possession of the faculty and the records of the 
departments. The board heard an appeal from certain students as 



20 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

against the action of the faculty. Matters looked exceedingly stormy 
for a time, but on the 18th, that wise counselor and ardent friend of the 
University, Hon. Samuel W. Parker, penned and introduced the follow- 
ing resolution, which was adopted, and w^hich sets forth a fundamental 
principal, viz. : "Resolved, that as a general rule in all matters of 
police and government of the University and the students that may 
enter the University, the action of the faculty must be deemed and taken 
as supreme and final, from which we would not encourage any appeal 
to the board." The fact is, the board ought not to have met at this 
time. The real history of that rebellion has not yet been written. 
When it is so written, it will doubtless be found that Dr. Curry was as 
much sinned against as sinning. 

Dr. Curry having resigned in July 1857, Hon. David McDonald was 
elected his successor. This was declined. Rev. Cyrus Nutt was again 
elected Professor of Mathematics and Vice-President. Under his 
guidance the University was carried on successfully till the election of 
Rev. Thomas Bowman, D. D., to the Presidency. Having accepted the 
position, he was inaugurated June 28, 1859, Hon, David McDonald de- 
livering the charge and the keys of the University. Much earnest 
prayer had been offered to God that He v^^ould direct the trustees and 
visitors to the right man for this important place. 

Dr. Bowman graduated at Dickinson College, started to become a law- 
yer, but turned his attention to the ministry when he felt the Divine 
call to that holy office, and became a successful pastor. When Dr. 
Bowman came to the University he met a hearty welcome. Men rallied 
to his side. It was soon believed that the mantle of Simpson had fallen 
upon Bowman. 

At this time the University had eight departments, viz. : A Chair of 
Mental and Moral Science, Chairs of Mathematics, Greek, Latin, Belles- 
Lettres and History, Adjunct to Mathematics and Principal of the Pre- 
paratory Department, and a Chair of Law. The "Golden Age of Asbury" 
seemed to have returned. Peace, prosperity, a real substantial growth 
were hers. Students increased in numbers and the work of instruction 
was all that could be desired. Dr. Bowman ruled in love. He com- 
manded attention in the pulpit and on the rostrum. In the class room 
he made men think. They realized that he knew what he was teaching, 
and seldom did one question his correctness. 

It was during these years that the great social revolution occurred in 
the University. Ladies were admitted to the halls of Asbury as students 
on an equal footing with gentlemen. It occurred at the session of 
the joint board in June 1866. Being a member of the board, I well re- 
member the discussions which were long and earnest for and against 
the proposed measure. Some of the arguments against it were amusing 
to one favoring it. But when the vote was taken the measure was car- 
ried by a large majority. The first ladies to graduate were in 1871, viz. : 
Alice 0. Allen, Mary E. Simmons, Bettie Locke and Laura Beswick. 
It has now become no uncommon thing to see the fair sex with the 
sterner kind struggling up the hill of science. It is sometimes hard to 
tell which will get there first. The pathway is not quite so lonesome as 
it once was. 



DePauw University. 21 

Dr. Bowman resigned in June 1872, in consequence of having been 
elected a Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In looking along 
the line I am inclined to sa}^: What a line of Presidents — Bishop 
Simpson, Bishop Am.es, Bishop Bowman, — men of brains and grace. 

As a successor to Bishop Bowman, after considerable canvassing Rev. 
Reuben Andrus, D. D., pastor of Meridian Street Church, Indianapolis, 
was elected July 31, 1872. He was inaugurated September 11, by Hon. 
A. C. Downey, President of the joint board. 

Dr. Andrus entered upon his duties as President immediately, and 
prosecuted them faithfully, until September 14, 1875, when he tendered 
his resignation. Dr. Andrus was a noble-hearted Kentuckian, but 
reared in Illinois. He was a strong preacher, and a thoroughly good 
man. Of Dr. Andrus and his times, Dr. Ridpath, the prince of histor- 
ians, writes : "When Dr. Andrus came to the University in 1872, he 
found a strong, well organized, well patronized and powerful institution; 
and when, three years afterwards, he returned to the ministry, he left 
the college with fuller patronage, happier prospects and far better re- 
sources than when he came. It was during this epoch that the new 
building which had been ten years in erection was at last brought to 
such approximate completeness as to receive the increasing tides of life 
which had already burst by overflow out of the old halls across the way." 

Dr. Andrus returned to the ministry, and closed his life at Indianap- 
olis, in 1887. 

After a large amount of correspondence the joint board elected Rev. 
Alexander Martin, D. D., to the vacant Presidency. Dr. Martin was 
formerly Professor of Greek in^ Allegheny College, and later President 
of West Virginia University. Having accepted the Presidency of Asbury 
he was inaugurated June 21, 1876, after one year of good work, Hon. A. 
C. Downey again delivering the charge and the keys of the University. 
Dr. Martin is a Scotchman by birth, a real and versatile scholar, a 
superior teacher, a perfect master of himself and his students, an en- 
thusiast in his profession, and a splendid governor. He seems born to 
command, and fitted by nature to be an organizer. May his bow" abide 
in strength. 

The Presidents of the University have been men of real greatness. 
No two of them were alike, but all seemed to have possessed one grand 
object in life. They were strong and faithful workmen. Simpson, 
Bowman and Martin served the longest. They are a trio differing 
greatly from each other, but all alike in grand and noble purposes. 

V. — The University Corporation. 

The ultimate success of any collossal enterprise depends upon the men 
who compose its corporation. If they are narrow-minded, selfish men 
the whole enterprise partakes of their narrow character; but if men of 
broad views, honest convictions, and strong nerve are delegated to carry 
out the views of their constituents, the enterprise will succeed. The 
success of the Indiana Asbury University is an argument, incontroverti- 
ble, of the excellent character of the men who have formed the corpora- 
tion. 



22 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

As we look over the University corporation, — the joint board of trustees 
and visitors, their officers and agents put into the field, we are led to 
say: "What a splendid corporation!" Some of the finest minds, and 
greatest names, and most successful business men of the age have been 
in the work of forming and developing the University. 

The Presidents. 

Dr. Stevenson, twice called to the office of President of the board, was 
a great hearted man, but strong in prejudice. Rees Hardesty, State 
Representative, was twice called to the office. Captain Thornburg, who 
thought as much of the University as a mother ever did of her first 
born; Hon. John Cowgill, a man of earnest heart, and one of the early 
Professors of Law; Hon. Samuel W. Parker, one of the purest and truest 
attorneys that ever plead at the bar for justice and right, and who was 
equally at home in the halls of Congress; Bishop Ames; a man of broad 
and liberal views, a statesman by birth, a ruler by nature; Hon. John 
A. Matson, who will never be forgotten for his work as twice the Pro- 
fessor of Law; Hon. David McDonald, the eminent jurist, once elected to 
the Presidency of the University; Dr. Hitt, a man of conscience and 
sterling integrity; Hon. A. C. Downey, twice called to preside in the 
board, covering a period of fifteen years, a Supreme Judge of the State, 
Dean of the Faculty of Law, one of the stateliest and steadiest men God 
ever made; John Ingle, a live railroad man and Presinent; Hon. Henry 
S. Lane, Governor of Indiana and United States Senator, a patriot a 
humanitarian, a nobleman by nature, and a Christian by profession; 
and the late incumbent, whose name of French descent but of western 
birth the University now bears, Hon. W. C. DePauw, — these names 
mark men of more than ordinary mental power and force of character. 

The Secretaries. 

There have been but four Secretaries for the board, viz. : Tarvin W. 
Cowgill, Thomas Robinson, J. P. Southard and James C. Yohn, the last 
of whom for thirty years has been at his post, and whose head and heart 
have been largely interested in the growth and success of the University. 

The Treasurers. 

For fifty years the University has had but six Treasurers. Not one of 
them has proven a defaulter to the amount of one cent. It is a pleasure 
to read the names of Rees Hardesty, James Talbot, John M. Allison, 
Calvin Fletcher, David Macy, and that son of the University, that native 
born son of thunder, who was born in a parsonage, and whose heart is 
as big as himself, Col. John William Ray. 

The Trustees. 

The Trustees have been selected from all parts of Indiana by the 
election of the Indiana Conferences. With half a dozen exceptions they 
have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were perfect 
representative men of Methodism, as well as representative men in pol- 
itics and business. In all, there have been 136 trustees. Of these four 



DePauw University. 23 

have been or became Bishops, fifty-two ministers of the gospel, and 
eighty-four in other callings. Among these names are Governors 
Wright and Lane, Lieutenant-Governor Cumback, Senators Howard 
and Lane, Congressmen Parker, Thompson and Cumback, Judges 
Downey, Sample, Emmerson, Matson, McDonald, Carpenter, Iglehart 
and Mitchell. 

As presidents of Colleges there have been : F. A. Hester, Chancellor 
Sims, Robinson, Simpson, Bowman and Andrus, and as leading attor- 
neys, Fletcher, Martin M. Ray, Cravens, McDonald, Mcintosh, Daily, 
Smith, Redding, Binkley and Moore. 

Here have been found bankers, physicians, manufacturers, farmers, 
merchants, and other professions and callings. Here have been strong, 
able, conscientious men, who gratuitously, have wroughtfor the elevation 
of humanity, the salvation of souls, and the glory of God. 

On this board Rev. F. C. Holliday, D. D., the Nestor of the Corporation, 
has served as a trustee thirty-seven years; next to him ranks D. L. 
Southard, thirty-six years; John Brownfield, thirty; John Wilkins, 
twenty-nine; W. C. DePauw, twenty-three; E. R. Ames, twenty-one; W. 
F. Browning, twenty-one; Iglehart, eighteen; Ti. B. Sims, eighteen; 
Mcintosh, sixteen; Cumback, fifteen; Hight, fourteen; and several others 
ranging from thirteen years down to one. 

In the list of official visitors there have been 194 different ones up to 
1884. Of these thirty-eight have been elected trustees. The longest 
service as visitor was by William Graham, nine years; S. T. Gillett and 
J. V. R. Miller, each six years; James Havens, W. M. Hester, B. F. 
Rawlins, W. H. Goode, H. N. Barnes, S. N. Campbell, T. H. Lynch, J. 

B. Lathrop and G. M. Boyd, each five years; all the rest from four years 
down to one. These have all been ministers, thirty -three being gradu- 
ates of Asbury. The corporation of the University has an honorable 
record. 

The Agents. 

From time to time the joint board has sent out agents to travel 
through the State to solicit money and students. These have done most 
admirable work. We can only specify a part, for want of knowledge of 
all. 

Aaron Wood and John C. Smith were the first sent out. Then William 

C. Smith, Isaac Owen, Samuel C. Cooper and Daniel DeMotte went out. 
Isaac Owen may be specially mentioned. "A man of energy and steady 
faith, he successfully sold scholarships for the endowment of the In- 
stitution." 

To show you the spirit of these men in their efforts to endow the Uni- 
versity and some of the ignorant opposition to their work I will quote 
from a letter that has just come into my hand written by W. C. Smith, 
while an agent, to his brother, G. C. Smith, a Trustee. — "For the welfare 
and success of our beloved University, I feel a deep interest. The repu- 
tation, and usefulness of the Church in the State, are closely identified 
with that institution. The spirit of education is abroad. Young men 
are preparing to receive an education. And if we do not educate them, 



24 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

somebody else will. The ej^es of the great majority of the people of the 
State who think anything about education, are being turned towards 
our Church, our Asbury. Consequently, we shall be woefully derelict 
in duty, if we do not sustain, amply sustain, that Institution. She is 
rising in popularity and influence. Young men are crowding her halls, 
and many of the most learned men of the two states, this and Ohio, 
pronounce her the best institution in all the West. And yet it is 
enough to make one's heart sick, to find some of our own men, whom we 
would expect to come forward, and stand nobly by her side, taking no 
interest in her, or, manifesting their prejudice against all such institu- 
tions; also, to come in contact with the profound and unbounded ignor- 
ance, of some of the people, and hear them sa}^ : "I'd rather give my 
children land than an education." "I've got rich without it, and so can 
my children." "Education makes cut-throats, thieves, robbers." These 
things I am constantly meeting. But, thank God, a brighter day dawns! 
My brother, do, I beseech of you, lift jour pen, and through the medium 
of the Western Christian Advocate, plead the cause of education, in our 
beloved Indiana." 

It was in the face of such antagonisms that the Fathers labored hard 
and long to plant and build up this University, and leave it full formed 
and grown to their children. Grand men! They builded better than 
they thought. May their memory be forever revered! 

VI. The Faculty. 

What a list of names are in the roll of the Faculty of Indiana Asbury — 
now DePauw — University, as from tim.e to time constituted b}'' the Joint 
Board. Here are some names with a state reputation, others with a 
national reputation, while some have attained a name wherever civiliza- 
tion has gone. Others are now laying broad and deep the foundation 
for a reputation as great in the years to come as any of there confreres in 
the past or present. 

If time permitted it would be a pleasure to speak of the members of 
the Faculty who were sons of Asbury. Among them are Joseph Tingley, 
a good student and a superior teacher, who for thirty years was a Pro- 
fessor; Philander Wilej^, son of Rev. Allen Wiley, one of the founders of 
the Universitv; H. C. Benson, S. A. Lattimore. H. A. Gobin, L. L. 
Rogers, Patterson McNutt, J. C. Ridpath, P. S. Baker, John B. DeMotte, 
T. J. Bassett, Alice and Anna Downey, H. B. Longden, 0. H. Brooke, 
H. W. Ridpath, R. R. Overstreet and Rose M. Redding. 

From the Faculty have gone out seven College Presidents, two editors 
of Church papers, nine authors, one of whom has put himself by his in- 
dustry, research and culture among the best historians of the century. 
It is not wrong to mention the name of Dr. Ridpath. Dr. Lattimore has 
few that outrank him in the scientific world. Prof. Larrabee has no su- 
perior as an essayist and graceful writer of pure English. 

In the class room the Faculty have done their best and grandest work 
for men and the world. Here they have patiently and faithfully wrought 
upon minds coming from east, west, north, and south, until they have 
been worked into shape for the Master's use. 



DePauw University. 25 

The Faculty have been promoters of great revivals of religion in the 
College halls. Simpson was noted for his earnest work in this line among 
the students. It is a pleasure now to hear his old students tell of the 
revivals under his administration, and of the fatherly solicitude he mani- 
fested for their conversion. AVhile Dr. Berry was President there was an- 
other great work. I wish I could transfer to these pages the glowing de- 
scription given me by one of the students of that day, of an exhortation 
of President Berry, and the marvelous effect, as students by the tens 
went to the altar seeking conversion. That was one of the things for 
which the Fathers founded the University. 

May such revivals increase in our College Halls ! 

VII. The Alumnal Record. 

The Alumnal Record is one of the means for showing the amount and 
character of work done in the University in the years gone by. A sen- 
tence in the Year Book for 1884 well portravs the thought. "It is only 
by the lon.s roll of names, including many that have become famous in 
the great affairs of commerce, literature, science, art, the Church, and the 
State, that the full magnitude of College work appears. The Alumnal 
Record is a demonstration of the wisdom and beneficence of all liberal 
and judicious investments made in favor of institutions of learning." 
The Indiana Asbury — now DePauw — University has that long roll of hon- 
orable names in all the great and noble callings of life, who reflect honor 
upon the Halls where they were educated. 

The first Class was graduated in 1840, by Dr. Simpson, and from that 
year to the present, there has gone out each year a good and respectable 
class, until now the graduates number 1,072. 

Here commences the most difficult and yet the most interesting part 
of our task. How to do exact justice to each member, and at the same 
time not weary the reader and hearer is a delicate work. The only way 
to do justice to all the members of the Alumni in a historical review is 
to give the name, attainments and character of each one. To do so 
would require a volume of a thousand pages. As such an undertaking 
w^ould be impractical, we must eliminate a few typical characters in this 
wonderful line of great men and glorious women. I can only speak of 
the first-class. 

The year 1840 was remarkable for two events : The election of " Tip- 
pecanoe and Tyler too," and the honorable graduation of the first Class 
of the University, consisting of Thomas A, Goodwin, F. L. Maddox, 
and John Wheeler. 

Two Courses of Study — classical and scientific — had been established 
at the beginning. The University had early felt the impulse of the age 
in its demands for a modification of College Courses of Study and adapt- 
ation of them to future professional pursuits. The first Class had repre- 
sentatives of both courses. Groodwin and Wheeler were classical, and 
Maddox a scientific. These gentlemen were men of excellent character 
and good natural ability, and acquired the very best grade in study that 
was possible. Wlieeler was the oldest ; an Englishman, born in Ports- 
mouth in 1815. Maddox was a live Kentuckian, born in Shelby County, 



26 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

in 1818, quick and active. , Goodwin was a real full grown Hoosier, born 
in Brookville, Ind., in 1818. He was descended from one of the old 
Virginia First Families. 

Wheeler possessed all the typical characteristics of a native English- 
man, and carried them through life. Maddox glowed with the chivalry 
of the high bred Kentuckian, and looked upon his native state as the 
only center of the world. Goodwin was characterized by that free and 
easy natural independence and warm heartedness born of our free Hoo- 
sier country. He never was known to ask anybody's pardon for having 
been born and being a student in the University. This same native in- 
dependence is his own to-day, though a grave old man of sixty-nine 
years. 

Wheeler rose by the force of his own sterling character and plodding, 
hard work to be President of Baldwin University, Berea, 0., and of Iowa 
Wesleyan University, and died at his post as Presiding Elder of the 
Keokuk District. Wheeler was not an eloquent, but he was a good, 
preacher, and looked faithfully after the details of the work, and im- 
pressed himself upon the churches under his care. 

Maddox was a roving man and loved excitement. He settled in lur 
diana, practicing law, and served two terms in the Indiana Legislature. 
On the breaking out of the Mexican War he went to Mexico as a Cap- 
tain. In after years he wandered away to California, where he died in 
Sacramento, in 1871. 

Goodwin has been a Minister of the Gospel, President of a College, 
editor of two or three papers, author of several books, a pamphleteer, a 
humanitarian, correspondent of religious and political papers, a real 
estate agent, and an impulsive man always. Goodwin is the author of 
" A Brother's Inquest over a Brother's Grave," which is the most fearful 
philippic in arraignment of the lum trafic that has appeared for fifty 
years. That terrible denunciation of the trafic and of the people who 
maintain it has never been and never will be answered until the Judg- 
ment Day. 

Viii. Special Schools. 

At the annual meeting of the Joint Board of Trustees in 1848 it was 
determined to open a Medical Department in Indianapolis, as it was 
deemed more suitable to plant this Special School at a place where there 
were facilities for good clinics. The arrangement having been completed, 
November 1, 1848, the "Indiana Central Medical College" was organ- 
ized, as a branch of the University. A competent Faculty in Medicine 
was selected, some of whom attained to distinction in their profession. 
Dr. Curran, of Jeffersonville, became known as an expert practitioner. 
Bobbs was celebrated as a surgeon at Indianapolis. Mears was a prac- 
titioner and a Professor whose opinions have become authority. Com- 
egys, at Cincinnati, has long been known as the author and Professor. 
These were no common men. They taught with devotion and enthu- 
siasm. 

The Medical School continued in being from 1848 to 1852, and grad- 
uated three classes, in all forty doctors. Among these graduates were 



DePauw University. 27 

men who have taken high position in their profession. Hervey, a pro- 
lific writer on hygiene and kindred subjects; Butterfield, the micro- 
scopist; Evarts, justly celebrated as a specialist in the treatment of the 
insane ; Todd, for years Professor in the Medical College of Indiana, and 
Thad. M. Stevens, the father of the Health Board of Indiana. 

The timidity of the Trustees, coupled with a want of the most con- 
genial elements in a part of the Faculty, induced the Joint Board to 
suspend the School. It might have been carried on successfully and 
without expense, and now could have had an attendance of 200 students 
and graduated a class of eighty each year. It was a blunder to suspend 
the School of Medicine. 

School of Law. 

The School of Law has had a somewhat uncertain and turbulent life. 
A Professorship of Law was founded in 1853, with Hon. John A. Mat- 
son as the Professor. In 1854 Hon. A. C. Downey became the Professor, 
and was succeeded in 1858 by Matson. In 1861 John Cowgill was elected 
and served two years. Now came an interregniim to 1872 when Hon. 
William A. Brown, Mayor of Greencastle, was Professor for two years, 
when the Law School died for the want of life. 

The old Law School lived long enough to graduate fifty-four full 
fledged lawyers in eight classes. Some of these graduates have taken 
prominent places in the profession. I might mention Col. Tom W. Ben- 
nett, and Judges Cullen and J. G. Berkshire. 

The School of Law has since, under the new departure, been opened 
with Hon. A. C. Downey as Dean. It gives promise of a protracted life. 

A Gerrnan Department. 

In 1853 it was deemed proper to establish a German Professorship, and 
Rev. Wm. Nast, D. D. was elected the Professor. Dr. Nast visited the 
University, looked over the ground, and declined. The reason for his 
action was this : The Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, had sur- 
rounding it, a large German population. Rev. Jacob Rothweiler was 
Presiding Elder on the North Ohio District. He went to Berea to preach 
and gather the Germans into a church. Dr. Wheeler, an Alumnus of 
this University was the President of Baldwin University. At his rec- 
ommendation the Trustees offered fine opportunities to the Germans to 
take a place in that institution. James Wallace, an Irishman and a 
Trustee, offered to build for them a suitable building for the German De- 
partment. Rothweiler became an enthusiast for a German College. He 
captured Dr. Nast, and thereby captured all German Methodists. Soon 
the German Wallace College of the Baldwin University was founded and 
opened. The Germans in M^estern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and 
Michigan rallied around German Wallace College and the German 
Methodist Orphan Asylum at Berea, and made it a power for good. 
That is the reason why our University had no German Department. 



28 Semi-Centexnial Celebration, 

IX. The Financial Growth of the University. 

To build a great University which shall be a long and lasting success 
r(-(]uires four things, money ^ braim in the Corporation and Faculty^ brains 
in her students and the blessings of the Lord. The University has always 
had a plentiful supply of all these necessary things excepting money. 
Want of money in abundance has been a lasting bane. Trustees and 
Faculty have pinched, economized, retrenched here that they might do 
more at another point, and saved there in order to make ends meet. The 
wonder is how 6,000 students could have been in any manner educated, 
and how 1,000 were graduated on so small an amount of money. 

The history of the financial growth of Asbury-DePauw University if 
fully written would be found to have been the result of hard work, care- 
ful economy and real sacrifice. With it would be much of the romantic. 
Time is not sufficient to enter into it. 

X. Change of Name and Enlarged Growth. 

The facts concerning this all important transaction have been woven 
into story by Dr. Ridpath, which must sta-nd forever as the true history 
of that much criticised transaction, and the development of Asbury into 
DePauw Universit3^ 

The causes leading to that event, the careful and prayerful thought of 
the Joint Board, the long and earnest deliberation of Hon. Washington 
C. DePauw and family, the carefully drawn papers maturely thought 
out and corrected until not a fault has been found with them, the con- 
scientious effort to do all things in the fear of the Lord, with an eye single 
to His glory, and the scrutiny of Him who never fails to detect all error ; 
these are all matters of history. The criticisms kind and unkind, the 
generous responses of many of our people to the calls for aid, the words 
of cheer from most of the Alumni, the ministers, and the friends are 
known and recognized. The learned Faculty gathered in the various 
departments of the University, the increasing numbers of students who 
have flocked to these Halls, the excellent instruction given, and the 
grand revivals accompanying the presence of the Holy Spirit within 
these walls, are great facts in the present history of DePauw University, 
w^hich tend to make her all glorious. 

May DePauw University never grow less ! 



DePauw University. 29 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 

Of the Transition from Indiana Asbury University to DePauw 

University. 



By John Clark Ridpath, A. M., LL. D. 
Of the Class of 1863. 



The facts immediately antecedent to the change of name from Indiana 
Asbury to DePauw University relate to the embarassed condition of the 
institution, to the efforts of its friends, and to the philanthropy of a 
benefactor. Let it be known, then, that in the summer of 1881, when 
Hon. Washington C. DePauw, of New Albany, Indiana, was about to 
set out with his family for an extended trip in Europe and the East, he 
provided, like a prudent man, for the possible event of his death. It is 
well understood that Mr. DePauw has, in the last forty years amassed a 
large fortune. He has done so by constant application to business, 
wisdom in the directions of his energies, fortunate investments, and, 
above all, by the possession of a rare genius for the developement of 
profitable industries and the management of large affairs. About to go 
abroad, Mr. DePauw prepared his will. He found himself able, at the 
age of fifty-nine, not only to provide large bequests for all the members of 
his family, but also to bestow a part of his fortune upon some benevo- 
lent enterprise. His family all united with him in the purpose to de- 
devote a considerable per cent, of his large accumulations to some great 
memorial which should fitly represent the leading endeavor of his own 
life, carry forward the work which he should, in the course of time, be 
no longer able to direct in person, and at the same time perpetuate the 
family name. 

Such were the fundamental considerations which led Mr. DePauw, in 
the preparation of his will, to provide that a portion of his estate should 
be set aside for the founding of a Memorial University. This provision 
was accordingly made, and everything legally arranged, so that, in case 



30 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

of Mr. DePauw's death, a large sum would be left in the hands of his ex- 
ecutors and family for the establishment, within five years after his de- 
cease, of an amply endowed institution of learning. The location of the 
institution, the details of organization, etc., were left to be determined 
by his wife, children, and the trustees of the bequest. The University 
so to be founded was to be called DePauw University, as a memorial 
to the family name. 

Having made these provisions, Mr. DePauw was about to depart for 
Europe. He was to go, first of all, to London, to attend te Ecumenical 
Council of the Methodist Episcopal Church of which he was a zealous 
and devoted member. It happened at this very juncture the friends 
and agents of Asbury University were making a strenuous endeavor to 
rescue the institution from her financial embarassments. In doing so 
they appealed earnestly to Mr. DePauw for aid. At the time they knew 
nothing of Mr. DePauw's will or the provisions which he had made for 
the founding of a University. When they appealed to him to contribute 
something, before his departure, for the relief and development of 
Asbury, and pressed him to endow one or two memorial professorships, 
he at length made known to them the existence of his will, and an out- 
line of the provisions therein contained. The persons to whom this 
information was communicated were Dr. J. J. Hight, of Cincinnati; 
Colonel John W. Ray, of Indianapolis, and Dr. J. C. Ridpath. Before 
there was any time to consult v^^ith the Board of Trustees, Mr. DePauw 
set out for Europe. President Alexander Martin was also a member of 
the Ecumenical Council, and departed at the same time for England. 
It was deemed desirable at once to convene the Trustees of Asbury Uni- 
versity. This was done at Indianapolis, on the 31st of August, 1881. 
The meeting of the Board was private. Dr. Ridpath, Vice-president of 
the University, laid before the body the information which Dr. Hight, 
Colonel Ray, and himself had obtained relative to Mr. DePauw's pur- 
poses. An earnest discussion of the situation ensued, and, to sum up 
the results in a word, it was resolved by the Board, unanimously, that 
Mr. DePauw should be formally asked by the Trustees to divert the be- 
quest which he had made for his memorial University to Asbury, and 
to build the new institution on the foundation already laid. It was 
also resolved to indicate to Mr. DePauw the wish and purpose of the 
Board, in case he should yield to their request, to change the name of 
Asbury to DePauw University, to the end that his memorial bequest 
might be preserved in its original intent. This action on the part of 
the Board was proper and right in every particular. Let it be under- 
stood at once and forever that for the Trustees to ask Mr. DePauw to 
give up a memorial bequest which he had consecrated to the honor of 
his family, and not at the same time proffer to him the name of the in- 
stitution to which the bequest was to be diverted, would have been an 
act so ungenerous and improper on their part as not to be entertained 
by large-minded and honorable men. It could not fail to be noticed, 
moreover, that neither Bishop Asbury himself nor any one in his name 
had ever given a cent for the development or endowment of the insti- 
tution. The name Asbury, therefore, was purely honorary. It belonged 



DePauw University. 31 

in the same category with the many names of churches which have been 
given in honor of the bishops or other distinguished members of a 
Church rather as a passing tribute of respect than as a permanent 
memorial. The frequent changes made in such names fully attest the 
fact that the same have been bestowed rather from a passing enthusiasm 
or personal preference than as a permanent memorial to a founder. 

Fully appreciating these facts, the Board of Trustees unanimously 
signed a paper, which had been prepared by Dr. Ridpath, requesting 
Mr. DePauw to divert his bequest to Asbury, and that he accept the 
change of name. 

The leading objects had in ^;iew by the Trustees in their first commu- 
nication were three in number : First, to induce Mr. DePauw to begin 
his great educational enterprise during his life-time; second, to secure the 
diversion of his bequest to Asbury University; third, to gain Mr. DePauw's 
consent that the name of the institution might be changed so as to bring 
the same under the provisions of his will. A iew extracts from the letter 
addressed by the Trustees to Mr. DePauw may serve to illustrate the 
spirit in which the enterprise was undertaken. The Committee in their 
first letter say : 

"Asbury University has long been the child of our mutual anxiety. It is to her 
and her future that we wish to call your attention; and it is concerning this, our 
beloved College, that we desire to make a few suggestions of the most vital import- 
ance. In the first place, we would express to you our deliberate conviction that 
the time has come when the future of Asbury University presents the alternative 
of complete success or partial failure. Complete success would mean the creation 
of a power for good, here in the West, which no adverse influence could successfully 
antagonize. Partial failure would mean, not perhaps the extinction of the Univer- 
sity, but her retrogression to an inferior rank and a consequent humiliating abate- 
ment of her usefulness and distinction. We are fully persuaded that you are as pro- 
foundly interested as any of our number in seeing that the right alternative is chosen, 
to the end that the future of the institution, over the direction of w^hose destinies 
we are placed by the voice of the Church, shall be crowned with additional influence 
and honor. You are fully aware that the one great condition on which the full success 
of Asbury University depends, is, so far as human foresight can penetrate, the 
COMPLETE AND AMPLE ENDOWMENT of the institution. To this end, as you know, our 
thoughts have been anxiously turned for many years; and it is this one overshad- 
owing question which we wish to present to you, 

"In the discharge of our duties as Trustees of the University w^e have been long 
and earnestly seeking for the man, or men, who should assume the great work of 
endowing the institution. Thus far, as you know, we have been bafiied in our ef- 
forts. Though many times disappointed, we are not discouraged. The object of 
the present paper is to present this cause to you, and to express to you the sincere 
convictions of j^our colleagues on the Board that you, of all men, are the one to 
whom we may look most hopefully, and we trust most confidently, for the help 
which we can not furnish of ourselves, and which we are apparently unable to pro- 
cute from others. We ask, therefore, that you Become the patron of the University 
over which we are placed in charge, and that you contribute to her resources 
A COMPLETE AND AMPLE ENDOWMENT. Our rcasous for asking so great and dis- 
tinguished a work at your hands may be briefly enumerated: 

"1. Such an endowment given by you to the University will assuredly be the 
means of doing the vastest good, of bestowing the best of all gifts upon your fellow- 
men, of spreading sanctified learning and establishing the cause of Christ in all 
these lands. The extent of the benign influence of such a gift would be immeasura- 
ble, if not infinite. The hallowed effects of such a work would be dispensed as the 
sunshine into all countries and throughout all time. 



32 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

" 2. We rejoice to know that you have been so abundantly prospered in all that 
you have set your hands to, in the work of life, that you are amply able, without 
injustice to those other interests which lie near your affections and purposes, to en- 
dow fully a great University. 

" 3. No other memorial which the greatest wealth can build can compare with 
this in DURATION AND honoe; or v,^ill so greatly tend to keep alive your memory in 
the quick affections of jonr fellow-men; or raise up so many in the far future to 
speak your praise and call you blessed. 

" 4. We have reason to believe that among your most cherished plans and pur- 
poses is that of founding and endowing a great University, and we most cordially de- 
sire to furnish the occasion and the opportunity for carrying into full effect and 
complete realization your hopes and wishes. The entire coincidence between what 
we, as the guardians of the University, desire to see accomplished respecting her 
future, and Avhat we have reason to think is contemplated by yourself, furnishes 
additional grounds of confidence that you will take up the great enterprise presented 
in this paper, 

" 5. We are sure that such a work as that of enowing the University, the creation 
of hew departments to answer ever-increasing demands, the fostering and care of 
the multifarious interests which, foreseen and unforeseen, are ever presenting 
themselves in a great institution of learning — would furnish to yourself, as it would 
to us, a vent for the best activities of our lives. Our mutual counsels, and the 
stimulus of so vast an enterprise, could, though many times beset Vv'ith difficulties 
and grave responsibilities, not well be other than the most grateful and, we may 
say, important duties to which earnest men can be called. 

"6. It is our sincere judgment tha,t you aee in every way pitted for this great 
work. Your large experience in educational matters; your earnest and unselfish 
purpose to accomplish, without ostentation, the greatest good; and especially the 
fact, well known to all, that your ample means are consecrated to promote the best 
interests of men, all conspire to intensify what may be called the fitness of the work 
here presented for your consideration. 

" 7. Finally, we wish especially to emphasize the fact, now generally conceded 
by thoughtful men, that those benefactions, which are contemplated out of the ac- 
cumulations of a lifetime are far more fruitful of good, more certain in result, more 
immediate in their benefits, and pre-eminently more satisfactory and honorable to 
the giver himself, if made under his own direction, during his life, while his facul- 
ties are still aglow and his power of enjoyment still unimpaired, than if left to the 
hazards, uncertainties, and remoteness of posthumous devises. There is certainly 
no reason in the world why a man y/ho has been blessed with wealth and has de- 
termined to bestow a part of that wealth upon society, should not himself see the 
fruit of his planting, and enjoy in common with others, but in a more intense de- 
gree, the happy results of his labors and benevolence. 

" We, therefore, confidently appeal to you to undertake the magnificent enterprise 
of endowing in our State a memorial institution of learning of such proportions and 
character as shall be and become an agent of the highest good, and at the same time 
the most glorious monument of your own beneficence and good will to men. In 
making this most important appeal we beg leave to assure you that we are not in the 
least unmindful of how much will be due you in return, not only from the State, 
the Church, and the Nation, but also especially from ourselves. We have most 
seriously and earnestlj^ considered the whole question arising in connection with 
what is here suggested, and are deeply impressed with a sense of our duties and 
responsibilities. We have consulted together, and after mature deliberation we 
are unanimously persuaded that the institution endowed by your munificence 
should bear your name. Without arguing the question at length, we desire to say 
that there can be no debate as to whether a man's monument should be inscribed 
with his name. In this case there would be not only a propriety, but a peculiar 
fitness, in giving to the institution, virtually brought into existence by your endow- 
ment, the name which alone would would properly perpetuate the memory of the 
founder. Asbury University has borne a great and honorable name, one not to be 
lightly flung asid^; but Bishop Asbury was in no sense the /ownder of the institution. 



DePauw University. 33 

Nor is there living in the world a single person who could be directly wounded by 
engrafting upon this vital root a new stock with a new name. It is our hope and 
purpose, under the conditions here outlined, to make the change suggested. The 
responsibility for such an action would be ours. Nothing could swerve us from 
what we conceive to be the straight line of dutj^ as it respects this dear and impor- 
tant trust. We think it our dutj' to pursue the course outlined in this letter. We 
seek at your hands the endowment of the institution over which we are placed in 
authority, and take this method of informing you of our wish and purpose, in the 
event of a consummation of our cherished hope, to confer on the University, thus 
revivified and recreated by your means, the name of DePauw University. 

" We do not desire to burden this paper with needless details, most of which 
could be easily adjusted in a few words of mutual counsel. We trust and most 
faithfully believe that your hopes and wishes are in common with our own. In- 
stead, therefore, of crowding into this letter extended discussions of minor points, 
we append brief memoranda expressive of our views on a few of the topics which 
would, first of all, engage our attention. For these memoranda we solicit, on your 
part, a careful consideration. We send these notes as giving an outline of what we, 
after considerable thought and discussion, have unanimously agreed upon; but 
they are only tentative, and are subject to many and great modifications at the sug- 
gestion of yourself or any other wise and safe counselor. We are all aiming at a 
common purpose. You are now abroad. We, your colleagues and friends in the 
cause of education, have availed ourselves of your absence to deliberate carefully 
and prayerfully on the great question presented in this paper. The result is before 
you. We have but one view and wish, and that we have endeavored to express. 
May the blessing of heaven attend our effort and our great hope be realized. 

A. C. Downey, Thos. B. Redding, 

F. C. HoLLiDAY, Wm. F. Bkowning, 
Will Cumback, Wm. Newkirk, 

Geo. L. Curtiss, James H. Carpenter, 
W]M. Graham, D. L. Southard, 

John J, Hight, John Brownfield." 

To this communication of the Board several memoranda were ap- 
pended relating to the organization of the proposed University, the loca- 
tion of the institution, the present needs of the same, and other vital 
topics: The papers were forwarded to Mr. DePauw, then in London, 
and on the 29th of September, 1881, he answered as follows : 

"J. C. RiDi'ATii, A. M,, Vice-President : 

Dear Brother : — Your valued favor, with accompanying documents, of the 5tli 
inst., came duly to hand. The giving of so much time and such large sums of 
money, and invohdng interests reaching, it may be, thousands of years into the 
future, requires long, prayerful, earnest consideration. Hence, for the present, I 
submit— 

" That, as a rule, names ought not to be given until the life is crowned by 'dying 
well.' 

" As to the matter in hand, future wants will be developed by time. Present 
wants are enumerated by you in paragraphs one to seven of your nriemorandum. I 
fully concur, so far as they are exact and explicit, in your statement of wants, but 
am at loss as to three vital points, namely : 1st. Tlie number of professors ; 2d. Ad- 
ditional buildings ; 3d. Cost of same. The papers are drawn up with great care and 
clearness; yet long as they are (and nothing could have been omitted), to the end 
that there may be no misunderstanding, I must ask for your view and that of the 
Committee and Faculty as to your propositions : 

" First. What of money (and building, if any) is requisite to establish the College 
of Law on a solid basis?' 

"Second. The number of additional professors and salary now required in the 
College of Liberal Arts ? 



34 Semi-CentenjsIal Celebration, 

"Third. Size (i. e., length, breadth and height) and cost of 'Dormitorv and Board- 
ing-hall ?' 

' 'Fourth. What special schools are pressingly needed? "What number of profes- 
sors, amount of money to equip, and buildings do they call for? Also, please name 
cost of each of your items in paragraphs 6 and 7. 

''The answer of these questions will aid me in reaching a conclusion. 

"I shrink from such notoriety as this change AYOuld give, and I greatly fear that 
my friends and the Trustees much underrate the harsh, unfeeling criticisms it 
would call forth. I suggest that the want of a campus of one hundred acres or 
more at Greencastle is a very serious objection to that point. Such a campus is in 
reasonable reach of Indianapolis, and I have such an one at Xew Albany ; and the 
selecting of either of these places for DePauw L'niversity would not call out unkind 
criticisms. Then, if, after the success of the new enterprise was assured, the Trus- 
tees of Asbury should ask to be taken in and become a part thereof, the dithculties 
I suggest would not follow, or_, if they did, would be overcome easily and quietly. 

" I know that if a new location is made, the forty years of Asbury]^ its strong man- 
hood, equipments and endowments as well, are X)ut into the balance, as it were, 
against the feelings of a man, and given up in whole or in part. Hence, the longer I 
look over the grounds and consider the difficulties, the more inclined I am to leave 
the whole ma,tter where it now is in my will ; viz., for my wife, children, executors, 
and trustees to decide after my death. 

" Very truly yours, W. C. DePauw." 

On the receipt of this communication the same was duly considered 
by the Trustees, and on the 1st of February, 1882, an answer was pre- 
pared in a private session held at Indianapolis. On the whole, the enter- 
prise seemed to progress favorabl}^ In their second communication the 
Trustees considered the difficulties which Mr. DePauw had suggested, 
urged him again to accede to their wishes in the premises, and still 
further elaborated the plans of the proposed University. A schedule of 
present and prospective expenditures was presented, and Mr. DePauw 
was asked to assume the burden of such outlays as might be agreed 
on as requisite for the rapid development of the University. Mr. De- 
Pauw had now visited Egypt and Palestine, and had returned to Switz- 
erland. From Lucerne, on the 5th of June, 1882, he forwarded to the 
Trustees his second answer, and as the same contains the most elaborate 
and formal statement of the Founder's views relative to the scale and 
character of the proposed DePauw University, the letter is here inserted 
in its entirety : 

Lucerne, Switzerland, June 5, 1882. 
" To the Trustees of Indiana Asbury University : 

"Dear Sirs axd Brothers: — Your esteemed favor of February, 1882, (covering 
sixteen pages), the record of the official action of your meeting held at New Denni- 
son Hotel, Indianapolis, on that day, has been forwarded to me by your committee- 
man. Professor J. C. Eidpath. 

" The long delay in making up this record and forwarding the same to me has been 
fully and satisfactorily explained by the Professor. Although this delay will ulti- 
mate in postponing any action contemplated until the end of this year or the early 
part of next, yet it gives ample time to ascertain if our \'iews can be harmonized, 
and, if this can be done, to mature and perfect our plans. 

" First of all, accept my thanks, and believe me grateful for the many kind ex- 
pressions of brethren beloved. I assure you they are highly appreciated, particu- 
larly so much as refers to my past life and your confident belief as to the future 
thereof. 

" In your record the pressing wants of the University are in nothing overstated, 
but in some things understated. 



DePauw University. 35 

"Now, as to the matter in hand, I wish to be frank as well as transparent. 

"(1.) As TO Location. 

" First. I have asked Bishop Bowman to go carefully over all papers, and give me 
his best judgment and conclusion as to what I ought to do. I need hardly add that 
I will defer greatly to his opinion, and must have it, if attainable, before I make a 
final decision. 

" Second. One whom Methodists the world over delight to honor strongly urges a 
National University at Washington City. His arguments are that Washington is 
the established seat of government, is a great center that is growing rapidly, and 
increasing in importance and power, and that Methodism ought to lead off there 
with a great University, and if I lay the foundation and lead, others will aid largely 
and rapidly, etc. On account of the high character and mature judgment of this 
friend, I am considering the same. 

" Third. All other things being equal, my preference would be New Albany or 
Indianapolis. 

"(2) As TO Endowment. I am unwilling to obligate myself to give the University 
$1,000,000. 

''Briefly I will say, my will provides for the payment to DePauw University of 
certain sums of money at stated times, aggregating, say $300,000, to be paid out of 
my personal effects as other legacies are paid. At a stated time, say five years after 
my death, my improved real estate is to be sold on long time, payable in annual 
installments, with six per cent interest. At a later day, say ten years after my death, 
my unimproved realty is to be sold with like interest and payment. Of the proceeds 
of these sales 1%% ^^^ ^o go absolutely to said University, and the other parts of said 
remaining j%% may go to said University if any of my children should die childless 
prior to said distribution. In average financial times the University w'ould receive 
from these percentages over $500,000. 

"In good times, with boom in real estate, the University's percentages would ag- 
gregate more than $1,000,000. But these percentages, you will observe, depend 
somewhat upon the ability and integrity of my executors and mainly upon the then 
financial condition of the country. This real estate is in growing Western cities. 
The history of the world teaches that the price of realtj'- fluctuates very greatly, not 
only in different cities, but in different parts of the same city, and no man can tell 
what may be the price of realty ten or twenty years hence in such rapidly growing 
cities as we have in the West, particularly Chicago. 

"To recapitulate. The University is provided for in these percentages just as my 
wife and children are. 

" I am very clear in my determination not to prefer the University to my wife and 
children, but each and all must take their chances in the ability and integrity of my 
executors, the then financial condition of the country, the stability of the govern- 
ment, the growth of cities, and the then high or low price of real estate in cities. 

" To have the whole matter clearly before us, suppose we assume,- — 

" First. That I am willing to give now the $300,000 provided for in my will, ac- 
cording to the suggestions in your record, supplemented by schedule transmitted 
herewith. 

" Second. That this gift, with the percentages indicated in my will, is entirely 
satisfactory to all the Trustees. 

" Third. That the contract outlined by you be drawn on this basis. 

"What then? 

" You have no provision whatever for the following wants: 

"(1) The constantly growing and increasing wants of the University. 

"(2) A Campus. 

"(3) A Theological Seminary. 

"(4) Lastly and vital, a sufficient endowment to meet fully the present deficit of 
$7,000 to $10,000 between current receipts and current expenses. Unless each and 
all of these enumerated wants are fully met, the University would fall short of my 
aim and intent, tience, the practical question is. Can we meet and provide for 
these last named wants ? 

"As to the first item, I think there need be no serious apprehension, as Indiana 



36 vSemi-Cextexnial Celebration, 

Methodists are accumulating wealth rapidly, and earnest Christian men are more 
and more seeking investments of this kind. As the University grows and prospers, 
many of them will be drawn to it, and give out of their abundance as the founders 
and fathers did out of their poverty. i3esides, if mj life should be extended, just 
what more 1 may give the Lord only knows. 

" Second. Campus— the citizens of Putnam Count}^ ought to give ample grounds, 
conveniently located, well fenced, planted in trees, for this purpose. 

" Third and Fourth. As to endowment for Thelogical Seminary and to meet 
deficit. 

"Fully 3200,000 will be required. Of this, 850,000 would be available (the. re- 
mainder of the 8300,000 named in my will), leaving 8150,000 to be provided for, and 
the p)ractical question is, Will the citizens of Putnam County give the campus com- 
plete, and will the friends of the University give the 8150,000, payable in one, two, 
three, four and five years, with interest. 

" These last items — a campus and 8150,000 endowment — I earnestly recommend to 
the Board for im.mediate action, as the endowment is essential to' the life of the 
University as it now exists, and the campus is a felt want. If these two things can 
be accomplished speedily, it will go a great way toward settling the whole matter as 
you desire. 

" "Whether all you have indicated is brought about or not, let me again urge that 
this addition of 8150,000 to the endov»'ment is vital. 

" In conclusion, my earnest prayer is that the Lord will rule and overrule, turn 
and overturn, everything connected with this matter, and bring about such results, 
and only such results, as will honor God and glorify' the Father in heaven, and be for 
the good of Methodism ; and may all that is good, and nothing that is evil, come 
to you and each of you, and abide forever. 

" With high esteem, your friend and brother, 

"W. C. DePauw." 

To this letter Mr. DePauw appended an elaborate schedule, enumerat- 
ing under different heads the various expenditures to be made on the 
hypothesis that the plans outlined in the correspondence should be 
finally agreed upon between the Trustees and himself. The schedule 
covered a period of four 3^ears, extending from tYie 1st day of August, 
1883, to the 1st day of August, 1887. The aggregate of outlays indi- 
cated in the same amounted to the $300,000 Tvhich had been indi- 
cated as the ba.sis of the plan, and was distributed with great wisdom 
to the various heads of endowment fund, additional buildings (includ- 
ing two dormitories, a law school, an observatory, etc.), museum, library, 
apparatus, and prizes. The suggestion was also added that the matter 
of the additional campus be at once brought before the citizens of Green- 
castle and Putnam County, to the end that the needed grounds might 
be at once procured, and also an appeal that the raising of the $150,000 
additional endowment should be pressed upon the attention of the 
Methodist State Convention, which was to convene at Indianapolis on 
the 27th of June, 1882. Mr. DePauw concluded his schedule with these 
impressive words : 

" Asbury can live as it is without additional buildings. Library, ]\Iuseum, Observ- 
atory, Campus, Theological Seminary, etc., etc.; but can not live, eveii as it is without 
a large increase to the endowment fund or tuition fees to make good the annual 
deficit. 

"Three propositions are before us: 

" First. Gradual death. 

"Second. Life by tuition fees. 

"Third. Life by *81 50,000 additional endoAvment. 

This communication reached the Trustees at their annual session on 



DePauw Univeksity. 37 

the 19th of June, 1882. They immediately resolved to comply with the 
suggestions and plans submitted by Mr. DePauw. It was determined 
to raise the $150,000 demanded as a condition precedent to the founding 
of DePauw University. A communication, was prepared and forwarded 
to him in which the purpose of the Board to undertake the work in 
earnest was declared. Early in September Mr. DePauw returned from 
Europe. Personal interviews were held between him and the Trustees, 
and the result was that, on the 14th and 16th of October, 1882, he sub- 
mitted a formal proposition, the nature of which will be fully under- 
stood from the following two letters : 

"New AlbxVny, Ind., October 14, 1882. 
" Dr. J. C. RiDPATiT, Greencastle, Ind.: 

"My Deae Brother. — If the triends ot the University in Putnam County will 
give to said University all the grounds in the city limits south of the.new campus, 
between Locust Street and College Avenue, and cause all the cross streets therein to 
be vacated; also, the lots lying south and east of College Avenue Church, and pro- 
cure the vacation of the street running east and west between said grounds and the 
new College grounds ; also, all that part of the Ames lot south of Locust Street 
Church, and fronting on Locust Street, running back 150 to 200 feet deep ; and pro- 
cure for said University a perfect title to the Durham farm of 120 acres and pro- 
posed avenues leading thereto for the sum of $18,000 (which sum I will pay); and 
the friends of the University will add to the endowment fund the sum of $150,000, 
to make good the deficit between present current expenses and receipts, — I will 
yield to the wishes of the Board of Trustees and Visitors of Asbury University, and 
accept the proposal made by them to me to change the name, and will endow it 
about on the basis of my letter from Lucerne, Switzerland, to you. 

" Respectfully yours, 

"W.C. DePauw." 

New Albany, Ind. , October 16, 1882. 
" Bishop Bowman, ChaArman Committee Trustees Ashury University : 

"Dear Brothers. — Having provided in my will for founding and endowing of a 
university to be called DePauw University, to be located in Indiana or out, the 
location to be decided by my wife, children and executors; the Trustees, Visitors, 
Faculty and other friends of Asbary University have been making an earnest, laud- 
able effort to induce me to bestow my gifts on the University at Greencastle— to that 
end have unanimously and officially again and again proposed to change the name 
of Asbury to DePauw ITniversity. 

" Plaving visited Greencastle and looked over the ground and fully considered 
your proposals and consulted loved friends on whose judgment I can rely, I have 
reached conclusions that will doubtless be satisfactory to you and the friends of the 
University. I have not concealed the fact that my own preference for the location 
of DePauw University would be at New Albany or Indianapolis ; y6t gentlemen 
from all parts of the State, whose opinions are valued iDy me, have grave doubts and 
fears about establishing a second Methodist university in Indiana. So serious are 
their doubts and apprehensions that I have yielded to their views and your wishes, 
rather than locate DePauw University outside of my native State. 

"As to changing the name of Asbury to DePauw, I have not yet obtained mj'- 
own consent that it should be so changed now. But to meet present pressing wants, 
that there may be no delay, I will (as soon as the friends of the University comply 
with the conditions and stipulations hereinafter named) furnish at the dates speci- 
fied and for the purposes named in my Lucerne schedule, say about $100,000 for 
needed new buildings, additions to the library, apparatus, museum, and for statuary, 
paintings, and merit rewards. 

" Second, I will out of the last $50,000 (of the $300,000 named in my Lucerne let- 
ter) pay $18,000 for the Durham farm of one hundred and twentj^ acres and ap- 
proaches, and pay the salary of say $2,000 per annum for a professor of theology. 



38 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

"Third, As long as it is convenient for me so to do (of which convenience I shall 
be the sole judge) I will, beginning October 1, 1883, pay quarterly $2,625, or $10,500 
per aniuim, to meet the wants indicated bv vou in your letter to me of February 1, 
1882. 

" Lastly, I will provide in my "will for the payment of the remaining $150,000 to 
the endowment fund, and for about such further endowment as I have indicated 
in our correspondence. It being expressly understood that when I stated in my 
letter that my will provided for the sale of my improved real estate some years afteV 
my death, I did not mean to include in such sale and percentages to said University 
any part of my manufacturing establishments, or my homestead near the city of 
New Albany and my city winter residence. All these are given to mj'- wife and 
children. 

" On the other hand I did not mention the fact that after paying all sums de- 
vised out of my personal effects and given to my wife and children, there ought, 
with good management, to be a large sum of personal effects for distribution, and 
that said University would get a share of the same. 

" Now, all the foregoing is upon the express condition and understanding that 
said Trustees, without my asking them so to do, have decided to and will change 
the name of said Universit}' to DePauw University at any time that I assent there- 
to, or my family request and desire it to be done. 

" And on the further express stipulations and conditions following: 

" If on or before August 1, 1883, the friends of the Universit}^ in Putnam County 
will give to said University all tlie grounds in the city limits south of the new- 
campus between Locust Street and College Avenue, and cause all the cross streets 
therein to be vacated; also the lots lying south and east of College Avenue Church, 
and procure the vacation of the street running east and west between said grounds 
and the new College grounds; also that part of the Ames lot south of Locust Street 
Church and fronting on Locust Street, running back one hundred and fifty feet to 
two hundred feet deep : 

" And procure for said University a perfect title to the Durham farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres and proposed avenues leading thereto for the sum of 
$18,000. 

" And the friends of the University will add to the endowment fund the sum of 
$150,000, to make good the deficits between present current expenses and receipts, — 

" Then I will yield to the wishes of the Board of Trustees and Visitors of Asbury 
L'niversity, and accept the proposal made by them to me to change the name, and 
will endow it about on the basis of my letter from Lucerne, Switzerland (say as 
modified herein). 

" And on the further express stipulation that until the friends of Asbury add said 
$150,000 in money to said endowment fund, they will pay interest thereon at the 
rate of seven per cent per annum. 

" Of course, when I or my executors pay said $150,000 that I have agreed to pro- 
vide for in my will to said endowment fund, then the payment quarterly of $2,625, 
or $10,500 per annum, will terminate. 

"Verv respectfully yours, 

"W. C. DePauw." 

On the 24th of October, a meeting of the Trustees and Visitors was 
held at Indianapolis, and the proposition of Mr. DePanw was formally 
accepted. The nature of the acceptance will appear from the following 
extract from the Minutes of the Board : 

" The Board of Trustees and Visitors of Indiana Asbury L'ni versify, having been 
made acquainted with the contents of the letters of Hon. W. C. DePauw, bearing 
date of New Albany, Indiana, October 14, 1882, relative to the endowment of Indiana 
Asbury University and change of name, addressed to Professor John C. Pidpath, 
as well as Mr. DePauw's letter of October 16th, addressed to Bishop Bowman and 
our Committe of Conference, unanimously adopt the following resolution: 

''Resolved, That the acceptance by the Hon. W. C. DePauw of the propositions 



DePauw UniveRvSIty. 39 

made by us to him relative to the endowment of Indiana Asbury University, and 
change of name, is a source of great gratification to this Board, as well as|to the 
friends of Christian education throughout the State and country, and that the plans 
presented in his letter be, and are hereby unanimously tldopted. 

" Resolved, That an earnest effort be at once made by this Board, and by all the 
friends of the University, to raise the $150,000 required to meet the conditions ex- 
pressed in Mr. DePauw's letters. 

" In concluding our lengthy correspondence on this great question, so vital to the 
interests of the Church and of all our people, we can not forbear to express to Mr. 
DePauw our profound appreciation of his benevolent decision as well as of our 
gratitude to God for His favors and blessings. 
" Your Friends and Brethren, 

"The Trustees and Visitors op Indiana Asbury University." 

The work of raising the $150,000 w^as now formally undertaken. A 
Committee, consisting of President Alexander Martin, Rev. John 
Poucher, Colonel Eli F. Riter, Captain Charles W. Smith, and Dr. J. C. 
Ridpath, was appointed to superintend the canvass of the State. This 
Committee was assisted in its work by Bishop Thomas Bowman. The 
duty of raising the local fund for the purchase of the additional grounds 
for the University was intrusted to another Committee, consisting of 
Dr. J. C. Ridpath, Franklin P. Nelson, Andrew M. Lockridge, James F. 
Darnall, Gus. H. Williamson, Thomas Bayne, Robert Z. Lockridge, 
William Bridges, and Dr. J. E. Earp. These were assisted by a large 
number of the leading citizens of Greencastle and Putnam County, who 
made common cause in the enterprise. By the commencement of 1883 
it appeared that the work had made satisfactory progress, and by the 
adjourned meeting of the Board, held at Indianapolis on the ist of 
August, the enterprise promised so well as to give great encouragement 
to the friends of the institution. At that meeting, however, it was 
found necessary to ask for an extension of time, and the same was 
cheerfully granted by Mr. TePauw. The Board then adjourned to meet 
on the 4th of October. AVhen it came to the canvass of results before 
the Board, it was found that the people of Greencastle and Putnam 
county had secured approximately the sum requisite for the purchase of 
the additional grounds; but the reports from the State at large were much 
less satisfactory. Scarcely more than one-half the needed sum had been 
subscribed; and of the amount ($77,000) which had been secured a large 
per cent, was trammeled with such conditions as to make it unavaila^ble. 
The outlook was very discouraging. It became evident that unless 
there should be some sudden rally or else a radical change of plan the 
enterprise must fail. In the emergency a consultation was held between 
Mr. DePauw and leading members of the Board, and it was agreed that 
a iiQ\^ basis of action should be adopted. A plan was devised by which 
the requisition of the public at large should be reduced to $120,000, and 
the present sum to be paid b}^ Mr. DePauw to $240,000. Other modifi- 
cations in the plan were made, and the whole scheme for the founding 
of DePauw University reduced to the basis of the following agreement : 

" This agreement between the Trustees of the Indiana Asbury University, a body 
corporate, party of the first part, and Washington C. DePauw, party of the second 
part, witnesseth that, 

" Whereas, on the fourth day of October, 1883, the following propositions were 



40 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

made and submitted by the said first party to the party of the second part, to-\vit : 

"1. That the committee hereinafter named be authorized and instructed to take 
necessary steps to obtain a change of name from ' The Indiana Asbury University ' 
to DePauw University, provided that all the Trustees and Visitors except Mr. De- 
Pauw sign the application for such change. 

" 2. That llr. Robert McKim be invited to proceed with the erection and equip- 
ment of the observatory proposed by him. 

" 3. That the people of Greencas; le and Putnam Count}' shall pay to the Uni- 
versity, by January 1, 1885, with seven per cent, interest from January 1, 188-1, 
860,000, to be expended by the Board in the purchase of grounds and the erection 
of buildings for the University at Greencastle. 

"4. That Dr. George Manners be respectfullv requested to relinquish his annui- 
ty of $400 on his first gift of S15,000 to the University. 

" 5. Provided, that W. C. DePauw agrees to pay two dollars to each one dollar 
principal and interest that may be paid to the Treasurer of said University on tin 
subscription this day reported to the Board, aggregating about 8120,000, as per 
schedule made out by said Treasurer. 

"6. That we recommend that a Committee, consisting of A. C. Downey, C. C. 
Binkley, G. C. Moore, William Xewkirk, and Clem. Studebaker, be appointed to 
complete and carry out this programme as soon as the written consent of Mr. De- 
Pauw shall have been obtained ; and, 

" Whereas, the said subscriptions so reported to the Board of Trustees by the 
Treasurer are as follows : 

Cash received, , $5,224 06 

Conditional notes, 8,271 00 

Absolute notes, 19,807 50 

J. E. Goodwin's heirs' donation, 10,000 00 

Dr. Geo. Manners' donation, 10,000 00 

Same when the annuity is released, 5,000 00 

Meridian Street Church 3,372 00 

Southeastern Indiana Conference, 15,000 00 

Northwestern Indiana Conference, 15,000 00 

Indiana Conference, 15,000 00 

Northern Indiana Conference, 9,896 34 

Cash of Northern Indiana Conference, 928 05 

Notf^s of same, 52 50 

J. W. Emison, ' 1,500 00 

A. Smith 200 00 

Governor A. G. Porter, 500 00 

Rev. J. J. Hight, 125 00 

Rev. R. D. Robinson, 500 00 

J. W. Ray, 200 00 

Total. $120,579 45 

Less error in report from Laporte District, 400 00 

Balance, $120,179 45 

"And, Whereas, the chairman of said Committee communicated the proposi- 
tions of said Trustees, and furnished him a copy to the party of the second part; 
and, 

" Whereas, said j^arty of the second part accepted and agreed thereto, as follows : 

" ' New Albany, October 15. 
" 'Hon. a. C. Downey, LL. D., Chairman of Committee of Trustees of Indiana As- 
bury University : 
" 'I have your favor of the 8th, and myself and family have gone over the pro- 
posals of the Board of Trustees very carefully. 

"'The proposition to change the name now, to my mind, is of doubtful pro- 



DePauw University. 41 

priety. But inasmuch as the entire Board of Trustees and A^isitors, backed by the 
five hundred Methodist preachers of Indiana, as well as leading prominent men 
and all the bishops of the Church that have spoken of the matter, are of one 
mind, and urge that the change be made, perhaps I ought not to resist. I, therefore,, 
hereby give my written acceptance of the proposition of the Board of Trustees, 
formulated October 4th and forwarded by you, as I understand them 

" Very respectfully yours, " ' W. C. DePauw.' 

" And as follows : 

New Albany, October 15, 1883. 

" 'Hon, a. C. Downey, Eising Sun : 

" ' My^ Dear Judge. — In v/riting you this morning I accepted the proposals of 
the Trustees as I understand them. To avoid the possibility of a mis understand- 
ing, let me say that I mean, when the name is legally changed ; when the citizens 
of Putnam County have paid or satisfactorily secured the payment of the $J0,000 
on the 1st day of January, 1885, with interest at seven per cent from January 1, 
1884; when Brother McKim gives a legal obligation to erect and equip an observa- 
tory according to his plans and ideas ; and when Dr. Manners has surrendered the 
right to annuity of himseif and wife on the last $15,000 that he gave, I will pay to 
the Treasurer double the sum of the Goodwin gift and the amount received in cash 
from Manners and in the Manners' notes and from all other sources included in 
such Treasurer's schedule, which aggregates about $1 20,000, as made up for the Trus- 
tees on the 4th of October, and thereafter, on the 10th of July and the 10th of Jan- 
uary in each year, I will pay said Treasurer double any sum that has been paid in 
cash in the preceding six months to said Treasurer on account of any of the sub- 
scriptions enumerated and set out in the schedule aforesaid. I think this is clear 
and precisely what the Trustees mean What say vou? 

" ' Respectfully yours, " ' W. 0. DePauw.' " 

" And, Whereas, the said party of the first part assents to and accepts the inter- 
pretation of said propositions so as above stated by the said party of the second part; 

" Therefore the said parties do respectively bind and obligate themselves for the 
full performance of said contract as above set forth. 

"In testimony whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands, the Presi- 
dent _pro tempore of said Board of Trustees, Fernandez C. Holhday, hereby signing 
the same in the name and behalf of said Trustees ; and by their authority and 
direction the same is attested by the Secretary of the party of the first part, and by 
its corporate seal hereunto attached, this 24th day of October, 1883. 

"\_SignM.] The Trustees op the Indiana Asbury' University, 

" By Fernandez C. Holliday, 

'* President pro tempore. 
'•' W. C. DePauw. 

^^ Attest: James C. Yohn, Secretary.'' 

Having taken this action, the Trustees adjourned to meet at Indianap- 
olis on the 20th of December. When that time arrived, and the Board 
had again convened, it w^s found that the necessar^^ amount had been 
subscribed by the people of Greencastle and Putnam County, but that 
the same had not been satisfactorily secured. As it related to the sub- 
scription of the state at large, it was found that the same had in notes 
and subscriptions approximated the required sum ; and as Mr. DePauw's 
endowment was to be paid in only as the public subscription was paid, 
this fact was deemed a sufficient guaranty for the payment on the part 
of the State at large. It, therefore, only remained, to complete the de- 
tails of the work, and to this end an adjournment of the Board was had to 
the 16th of January, 1884. On that date the Board of Trustees and Vis- 
itors reconvened at Greencastle. Twenty-five of the leading citizens had 
in the meantime prepared a guarantee of the $60,000 subscribed by the 
people of Greencastle and Putnam County. This guarantee was promptly 



42 Semi-Centennial Celebration, 

accepted by the Trustees and Mr. DePauw, and after an enthusiastic and 
harmonious meeting of two days' duration, the great enterprise of found- 
ing DePauw University was successfully accomplished. On the evening 
of the memorable 17th of January, 1884, just as the winter sun was set- 
ting behind the western hills, the cannon, booming in the campus, an- 
nounced to the waiting State that the work was done; that DePauw 
University, with her colleges present and prospective, her amplified 
grounds and promised endowments, was an accomplished fact; that the 
New had taken the place of the Old ; that the history of the past, with 
its immense weight of precious memories, had been made secure, and 
the future put under contribution. 

It now only remained to put the cap-stone on the work by securing 
the legal change of name in the ("ircuit Court of Putnam County. This 
branch of the business was intrusted to Granville C. Moore, Esq., one of 
the resident Trustees at Greencastle, A petition to the Court was pre- 
pared and notification duly published. The cause came up at the April 
term of 1884, and was duly called by Judge Silas D. Coffey on the 5th of 
May. A large concourse of people — citizens, Faculty and students — as- 
sembled to witness the formal proceeding by which the well-loved Asbury 
of the past gave place to the well-loved DePauw of the future. After a 
careful consideration of the petition, his Honor ordered the following 
decree to be made of record in the Putnam Circuit Court : 

"Wherefore, It is ordered and decreed by the Court that the name of said cor- 
poration, petitioner in this cause, be, and the same is hereby, changed from that of 
' The Indiana Asbury University,' as mentioned in the first section of the charter 
of said corporation, and from that of ' The Trustees of the Indiana Asbury Uni- 
versity,' as mentioned in the second section of the charter of said corporation, to 
that of ' DePauw University.' And it is further ordered, adjudged, and decreed 
that all the property, real and personal, rights, credits and effects of said corpora- 
tion, of whatever kind or nature and wherever situated, held, or possessed by peti- 
tioner in its former name of ' The Trustees of the Indiana Asbury University,' 
shall be, and the same are hereby, vested in said corporation by its new name of 
DePauw University, as fully and completely as the same have been heretofore held 
or possessed by said corporation by its said former name. And it is further ordered 
and decreed that said corporation, petitioner herein, by its new name of DePauw 
University, shall have, possess, and enjoy all the rights, powers, privileges, fran- 
chises, and immunities conferred upon said corporation by its charter and the 
amendments thereof, and the laws of the State of Indiana, by its former name, and 
which said corporation had, held, possessed, and enjoyed under its charter and the 
amendments thereof and the laws of Indiana. It is further ordered and decreed 
that said corporation, petitioner herein, shall, by its new name of DePauw Univer- 
sity, be, and remain, hable for all debts, obligations, and duties of said corporation 
owing to any person or persons or the public, whether arising out of the acts of 
petitioner, or from the laws of Indiana, or the charter of said corporation or the 
amendments thereof, as fully and perfectly as the petitioner was liable by its for- 
mer name of ' The Trustees of the Indiana Asbury University.' And, on further 
motion , it is ordered by the Court that the clerk make a complete record of the 
proceedings in this cause." 

So, on the 5th of May, 1884, was this grand educational enterprise 
brought to a successful and happy conclusion. 

Thus year by year some better thing ensues. 

Some nobler purpose rising o'er the past ; 
Some budding thought, which Providence renews 

With dew and rain, and brings to fruit at last. 



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